off the shelf: what I read July – Sept 2024

Disclaimer: The cake rating is my totally subjective, entirely arbitrary rating system. If I finished it, you can assume I enjoyed it regardless of the rating. 5 🍰‘s generally mean that I absolutely loved it and will/have purchased a copy for my personal collection.

Currently reading

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

Sex and the Psychic Witch by Annette Blair (on hold, maybe to DNF)

Read

Part of your World by Abby Jimenez 🍰🍰🍰

The one with the baby goat lol. I love how every Abby Jimenez book seems to have a mascot or two. Somehow I fell into a weird pattern of picking books with heavy themes… this one deals with a character who is coming out of a messy divorce stemming from emotional abuse, gaslighting, and narcissism (oh, my!). The story was lighthearted enough to keep it from tipping too deep into emotional trauma, but check your triggers. A rich city girl meets hot and sweet country boy, age gap romance featuring animal sidekicks and living your truth.

The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Claybourn 🍰🍰🍰🍰

Kate Claybourn excels at deep character development IMO. When a true crime podcast host comes knocking at Jess Greene’s door, family secrets are unearthed and long-buried emotions brought to the fore when a research trip forces Jess and her sister face their mother’s abandonment. If you like your romance heavy on plot and character psychology, this might be the book for you.

How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams 🍰🍰

This was a difficult read. I loved William’s The Fastest Way to Fall, which dealt with some of the challenges of living in a larger body, self-esteem, etc. The themes in How to Fail at Flirting are important but HEAVY topics. I wasn’t prepared for discussion of intimate partner violence and attempted r@pe on page, so if that’s a trigger for you, consider this fair warning. The romance was lovely, but I had to take a several breaks to read a lighter book before I could finish this one.

Wild Love by Elsie Silver 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰

I wanted to read something a little lighter on the inner turmoil after the last two lol… That’s not to say that it doesn’t deal with difficult topics – sexual harassment is a major plot point in the FMC’s storyline, but it wasn’t as hard to read as the events in How to Fail at Flirting.

This was my first Elsie Silver and won’t be my last. I don’t usually do billionaires, but Ford is the sort of billionaire sweetheart I would love to meet IRL. This is a childhood rivals to lovers tale and I LOVE rivals to lovers in all its iterations. With a cozy, small town Canadian setting, a surprisingly sweet long lost child sub plot (not a kid person, but it worked for me), and a bunch of side characters that are clearly destined for their own books, this is a series that I’ll be instabuying. (Book 2 is on my TBR already)

Whiteout by Adriana Anders 🍰🍰

I’d heard good things about this romantic suspense thriller set in the arctic… the first 2/3rds kept me going, but that last bit lost me. I skimmed to the end. Romantic suspense isn’t my usual genre, so that’s on me.

DNF

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Could not finish. Between the constant references to her breasts, her waist size, and her rotating shades of pink nail polish, I decided this series should stay in 2006.

Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Coincidentally, another book that should stay in 2007. SEP is definitely a problematic author, no two-ways about it; however, I’ve managed to look past the glaring sexism in most of the other books I’ve read by her, attributing them to their time. This one couldn’t hold my interest long enough to look past the issues.

Audiobooks

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰

It’s not every romance that makes me question my life, consider updating my afterlife plan, leaves me feeling like I just read (or listened to, in this case) the most inspirational of self-helps book.

This book opens with a death (the title kind of gives it away), so this may not be the best read if you’re dealing with loss, but it IS a happy, funny, upbeat read.

When Delphie dies, she gets a rare second chance to change her life for the better… shenanigans and unexpected romance ensue.

Happily Never After by Lynn Painter 🍰🍰🍰

When a professional wedding objector successfully breaks up Sophie Steinbeck’s wedding, she finds a new side gig and a new love interest. This was a fun story. Sometimes Painter’s characters feel more suited to YA, but it is an adult romance.

Accidentally Amy by Lynn Painter 🍰🍰🍰

This one was recently re-released. This review is based on the original version. Classic rom-com tropes, lots of mishaps and misunderstandings that lead to a forbidden office romance. Same comment re: characters as above.

📖I track my reading on LibraryThing and Storygraph.

off the shelf: what I read – April through June 2024

Disclaimer: the ratings are entirely subjective and just because a book wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean it might not be for you (or even me at a different time).

Currently reading

The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Claybourn

How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams

Read

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez – 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰

Bought this on a rec from one of the hosts at the SteamyLit pop-up that I attended in June and I could not stop reading! This is my first Abby Jimenez book but it will not be the last! I read it in two days, which is something I haven’t done in years. I literally could not stop. It was a good thing I was on vacation because I stayed up way past my bedtime so I could keep reading. A sweet, second-chance-at-love romance with anxiety representation.

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood – 🍰🍰🍰🍰

I’ve enjoyed every book I’ve read by Ali Hazelwood. She warns readers that this one is a bit different from her usual books when it comes to the tone of the story, but it’s not particularly dark. A few more kinks than her previous books, but not that subversive IMO. Not an academic setting like most of her previous works, but still set in the STEM field.

Bless Your Heart by Lyra Parish – 🍰🍰🍰

Lyra promises 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ and she delivers. If you want a small town, cowboy romance with plenty of heat, this one might be for you.

Hot Mess by Emily Goodwin – 🍰🍰🍰

I was in until I realized this is a two book duet and it left me on a cliffhanger. It was a cute read, but I didn’t feel invested enough to follow the pair to book two.

Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas – 🍰🍰🍰

This is an older romance, so check your content warnings. It probably has them all.

I had a slow start with this one, but the story picked up about a third of the way in and I was hooked. If you’ve read Dreaming of You, Then Came You is Lily’s story. She’s feisty and spirited and comes across a little reckless for the sake of drama until you learn her past. There’s a touch of mystery mixed in with the romance.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree – 🍰🍰🍰🍰

This sat on my TBR for about a year until my boyfriend decided to call me out for being so excited to read it and leaving it on the pile (this during a trip to B&N, when he should know better than to call me out for buying more books. the nerve). Anyhow, it was the kick I needed and it came at the perfect time. When work demands were particularly high this spring, this was the perfect cozy, before bed read. The stakes are low, but there is still a solid plot with plenty of character development and a sweet payoff.

After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez – 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰

Just perfect. This is one of the best romances I’ve read so far. Small town rivalries, a haunted bar, Mexican American history, and a steamy love story make this an instant rec from me. Also, this one is HOT 🥵.

Eclipse the Moon by Jessie Mihalik – 🍰🍰🍰🍰

In a charming twist, I enjoyed book 2 in this series more than book 1. The Consortium Rebellion series is still my favorite, but I love Jessie Mihalik’s brand of swoony sci-fi with a thread of suspense.

Audiobooks

When life is life-ing, I listen to a lot of audiobooks.

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman – 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰 (all the cake!)

Did this book give me an existential crisis while driving to work? Yes. Do I still recommend it? Most definitely. History, philosophy, productivity, Burkeman dives into all things related to the concept of time, and the many ways we try to wrangle our limited years on this earth. If you’re working to step away from hustle/productivity culture, this is an excellent read (or listen. Burkeman narrates it himself and he does a fabulous job).

The Viscount who Loved Me by Julia Quinn – 🍰🍰

I rewatched season 2 and decided to give the book a try… then I remembered why I never really liked the books. The show adds way more depth to these characters. Go with the show.

The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton – 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰

I saw this book recommended on a list of books that feel like Howl’s Moving Castle and that was all I needed to know. Howl is one of my favorite books and definitely one of my favorite movies. I am always looking for books that give me that feeling and that recommendation did not disappoint! I literally lol-ed listening to this book. It’s funny, sexy, imaginative… pirates, witches, flying houses, shenanigans. I loved it so much, I plan to get it in print and re-read it.

DNF

Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen

I gave it a good try, but I kind of gave up. I’m not resonating with YA at the moment and that’s on me.

There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura

It’s a slow read and I lost interest about 50% in. I renewed my loan twice, but when it lapsed for the third time, I decided to call it quits. Might pick it up some other time. I was in the Cracker Packet job chapter.

📖I track my reading habits on LibraryThing and Storygraph.

video: no/low buy March 2024 & 1st quarter budget check-in – challenges, successes, and small wins

Let’s sit down and go over my March budget, challenges, successes, and areas where I’m starting to see progress. Overall, it was a better month than February in terms of savings. I’m seeing a trend in the right direction and finally saving some cash for future expenses.