Fake Skating | By Lynn Painter

 

Dani and Alec were childhood friends. They spent summers playing together when Dani and her mom would come visit her grandfather. They wrote to one another and then it stopped. No more words exchanged and no more visits but things are about to change. Dani's parents are getting divorced and this means that Dani and her mom will be moving back. 

Dani and Alec are both hurt with one another and neither are looking forward to Dani being back. They are seniors in high school and Dani just wants to focus on school and get into the university of her dreams.

Alec has big dreams too. He is the hockey star of his high school team and is hoping hockey will be his big break and make it possible for him and his family to have more financial security. 

Alec and Dani find there way back into a friendship of sorts. They have a lot to learn about one another as time has changed who they are but deep down they know each others true self they just have to discover it.

Fake Skating is super cute and an easy read. If you like Lynn Painter's other books you will enjoy this one. 

The Housemaid (The Housemaid Book 1) | By Freida McFadden

 

Millie is working for the Winchesters. They have a beautiful home and Mille cleans, cooks and picks up the Winchesters daughter. Mille is a live in housemaid and is given a tiny room on the top floor of the home. The room is plain but for Millie it is like paradise because up until she got this job she had been living in her car. 

Millie quickly learns that something is amiss in the Winchester home. Nina the wife only wears white (and so does the young daughter). Nina makes messes on purpose and takes pleasure in watching Millie clean them up. Nina also does and says things to make Millie doubt herself. Nina goes from friendly to unfriendly back and forth causing much confusion.

Andrew the husband is handsome, rich and kind. Him and Nina don't quite seem to fit together. The daughter is peculiar, spoiled and a bit spooky. Despite misgivings, Millie continues to work for the Winchesters because the pay is good and she is a recently released convict which makes finding a job difficult. 

Mille discovers a huge secret that Nina is keeping and that mixed with warnings from the landscaper has her questioning more than the door to her room that only locks from the outside. 

The Housemaid is told in a diary type form and the audiobook keeps you captivated and makes you feel personally involved in the story. This story is binge worthy and I am excited to read more books in the series. I was entertained the ending was satisfying. 

Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean

Publication Date: February 3, 2026

Emma Nakamura-Thatcher is only 17 years old.  Her parents are divorced and this has left her jaded and not believing in love. When she receives a love note from someone claiming to be from the future. She dismisses it as a joke but then she receives another note. Emma is intrigued and writes back to the sender. They exchange note after note but the writer refuses to disclose his identity. 

Emma makes is her mission to discover the identify of the writer and by doing so she opens herself up to others leading her to discover things about herself and others. 

Emiko Jean knows how to write. She creates a realistic world with characters that are relatable to (even if you aren't a teen or young adult). There is a lot of character growth. Jean's writing keeps you guessing and wanting everyone to be the secret letter writer. 

This is my first read by Jean and I feel as though I just discovered a writer I will be revisiting again an again.

** I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

16 Forever | By Lance Rubin

 

Publication Date: January 6, 2026

Carter Cohen has been reliving his 16th birthday for 6 years. Every year on his birthday his memory of the previous year is erased. He goes back to looking 16 and his family has to explain his situation. He is stuck in a loop and despite trying over and over again he can't seem to break out of it. 

The friends he grew up with are in college and living the lives of 22 year olds. Carter has to go back to high school, make new friends and live with the knowledge that everyone is aware of his condition and works around it. 

His previous girlfriend, Maggie who he has no memory of has decided to sit this loop out. She is leaving for college next year and doesn't want to go through the pain of losing him again. Carter finds himself drawn to her but she is doing everything she can to pretend she doesn't know who he is and has asked others to not remind him of their previous relationship.

Lincoln who is Carters brother is away at college and is now older than his older brother. Lincoln feels like he is to blame for the loop and is living with guilt.

This time loop book is a different take creating a fun and exciting story.  The characters are well developed and the plot flows with ease. 

I was given the opportunity to listen to a free copy of the audio book and the narrators are amazing. They bring the story to life. I was able to visualize it and felt as though I was watching a series on tv. 

This is  a time loop book you don't want to miss out on.

** I received a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel

 

Georgia Rose is going undercover to do an expose on a hit reality show called,  Love Shack.  It's an important piece for her because it will make her dream job as a journalist possible. She plans to expose the show, producers and give backstage secrets on what it's like to be a contestant. Georgia is ready go integrate herself but when Rhett Auburn is introduced as this years host Georgia knows her life just got complicated.

Rhett was previously on the show and about a year ago Georgia had a passionate one night stand with him.  Rhett recognizes her but her knows her under a different name.  They will need to keep their one night stand a secret and pretend they don't know one another in order to both keep their part on the show.

This season's bachelor is Roland Marchetti. He is a tennis pro who has secrets of his own. The producer's of the game play a larger role in the selection process and his forced to play by there rules. There is a lot of manipulation going on behind the camera and in front of it. 

Engle's writing pulls you in as she captures the real feel of emotions and complicated relationships. You feel like you're experiencing a tell all in real time. This is a fun and charming book. You don't have to be a fan of reality shows to like this book (I am not).