romance books – marginalia and such

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.

Read

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey 🍰🍰🍰

See Rebel Yule for my sudden desire for holiday reads. A sweet, Christmas-themed workplace romance with a grumpy sunshine pairing. If you like a second-chance-at-life-after-serving-time arc (her), this one might be for you.

The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again, Vol. 5 by Hitsuzi Yamada 🍰🍰🍰

This series continues to be adorable. I’m taking my time reading the volumes I’ve collected (and have the last two releases on my wish list). If you’re looking for a cozy read about an anthropomorphic cat who takes care of his human, look no further.

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum 🍰🍰🍰🍰

A cozy read set in a Korean bookshop. This book has been on all the lists and for good reason. As I usually find with Korean (and Japanese) lit, lessons on life and philosophy are woven within the cozy vibes. Highly recommend if you want a quiet, meditative read.

The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling 🍰🍰🍰

An unexpected Christmas book from a series I associate with Halloween shenanigans. The Ex Hex is one of my feel good faves and this was a sweet winter addition to the series.

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score 🍰🍰🍰🍰

Picked this one up on a whim after seeing it at the library. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was sucked in from the start. One thing I’ve learned over the last year: I’m definitely a small town romance girl. If you like a found family, second chance at romance, somewhat enemies to lovers, with a side plot of intrigue, TWNGO might be for you. It’s on the long-side of contemporary, which might be a plus if you ever found yourself wishing your romance was longer.

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton 🍰🍰🍰

I started this series with book 2, which may have ruined the experience of book 1. It was fun, but the charm of book 2 stole the show for me. Flying houses, secret witch societies, pirates… dastardly deeds. It’s a silly romp.

Audiobooks

Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present by Ruth Ben-Ghiat 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰

This book has been recommended on all the anti-fascist reading lists and for good reason. It’s an incredible piece of historical analysis and a reflection current affairs. Not a light read but an excellent work if you want to understand the strongman playbook that we’re seeing in action.

Trigger warning for all kinds of abuses. If you can think of it, the people referenced in this book probably did it. You will need to read/listen to something lighthearted after this one.

Rebel Yule by Kate Meader 🍰🍰🍰

I’m not usually a holiday book girlie, but the times called for some holiday cheer this year. This was my second Kate Meader books this year and it was a nice little treat. The narrator did a Norwegian accent for the MMC that was pretty endearing. A sweet little story that was just what I needed this year.

The Dragon’s Bride by Katee Robert 🍰🍰🍰

So… I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m not a monster romance person, but I was intrigued by the demon that strikes the series of bargains that serve as the catalyst for this series. I’m adding that one to by TBR (it’s The Demon’s Queen, in case you’re wondering).

DNF

Sex and the Psychic Witch by Annette Blair

It was a little too of its time… maybe I’ll try it again at a later date. Just wasn’t hitting for me.

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Still Reading

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip – making my way through those print TBRs…

Finished

Act Like It by Lucy Parker – (link to HB podcast) A perfect enemies-to-lovers romance! I heard about this book a long, long time ago and had it on my book list forever… When Heaving Bosoms recapped it on one of their episodes, I decided the time was now. This was the unexpected reading highlight of a slow, but good reading month.

Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal – Pride and Prejudice in Pakistan… I’ve long felt that the only way to pull off a beat-for-beat Pride & Prejudice update is to set it in a place where marrying above your station can make a meaningful difference in a woman’s life. Setting it in Pakistan in the year 2000 is chef’s kiss. You get the mother-obsessed-with-marriage without it being weird and out of place. Billionaire boyfriend books aside, the relationship between Alysba and Darsee reads like a real Pride & Prejudice set in “modern” times. Loved how the story was updated and all the references to books scattered throughout (I already ordered a copy of Sunlight on a Broken Column by Attia Hossain).

One random aside, there are some jarring head-hopping scenes where the narrative shifts from the speaker to an omniscient narrator that tells you a different character’s thoughts or backstory. I’m not sure if this is a call-back to Austen, or a writerly conceit that didn’t work for me.

The Virgin and the Rogue by Sophie Jordan – aphrodisiac gone awry… This is the sort of premise that sounds absolutely bonkers but makes for a very fun, quick read. Couldn’t put it down. I loved the chemistry between the characters and look forward to reading more Sophie Jordan.

West by Edith Pattou – this book has been on my shelf for a little over a year… it was published in 2018, the sequel to Pattou’s East (a retelling of “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” that I love). One of the mainsubplots is a pandemic.
facepalm

That said, it took me back to a world I missed and reminded me why I love re-tellings. Still, if you can’t handle the thought of a plague, maybe hold off on this one.

A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane – barbarian romantic fantasy … this straddles the place between erotic and romantic fantasy IMO. If you don’t like female anatomical bits described as c*nt, maybe skip this one. This book is doing things… it doesn’t all work for me, but it makes me think, and that’s always worth the read.

Audiobooks

Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole – Not my favorite, but it’s a turning point in the series so…
Unpopular opinion: the Valkyries are the beings I enjoy the least in this series and this one has A LOT of Valkyries. Much of the conflict was of the “this could’ve been fixed if you talked about it” variety; pretty standard, but didn’t fully for work me. Think Jewel of the Nile with a not-quite-unrequited love interest, a god that needs to be killed, and a whole of lot interpersonal baggage.

TW: lots of sexual abuse and torture (the big bad is a really BIG BAD).