A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) (Part 1 & f 2) (Dramatized Adaptation) | by Sarah J. Maas

 

I've been hearing about this book and series for ages now. It isn't usually a genre I care for but it was recommend  I listen to the dramatized adaptation of it. The book is broken down into two parts and I was able to borrow them from Hoopla. It comes in two parts so you will need to get part 1 and part 2. I have the physical book copy but it wasn't pulling me in however the dramatized version did so if you are like me I recommend you listen to the dramatized adaptation because it is entertaining. It is mixed with the voices of different actors, sound effects and music. 

Nineteen year old Feyre is responsible for feeding and caring for her family. In order to do this she hunts. On a hunting trip she kills and skins a wolf unfortunately this results in her being taken by a fairy as retribution. She is forced to live with him in this castle but as she learns more about the Fae world and of her capture, Tamlin she finds herself wanting to save Tamlin and others like him.

I usually loathe books in which magical words of fairy's, wolves, dragons, etc are built but this one mixes in humans and it works. The creatures are also given human qualities making you on occasion forget that you are reading about a fantasy world. 

This dramatization adaptation makes this book work for me otherwise I would have DNF'd it. It did take me checking out the audiobook twice to get through each part but it was worth it especially when I got to the last quarter of the book! Mass builds a world that is believable and magical. I will be moving on to the next book sometime this year. This isn't a series I can read books back to back in. 

The Strange Case of Jane O. | by Karen Thompson Walker

 

One of my favorite books is The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. I also enjoyed The Dreamers. Walker doesn't put out books often so I jumped on the chance to read The Strange Case of Jane O and I absolutely loved it. 

Jane O is a single mom who a year after the birth of her child experiences a series of episodes that result in the loss of time, premonitions, hallucinations and a feeling of dread. Her first episode results in her being found in a park. She has no memory of what happened and this results in her visiting Dr. Henry Bryd a psychiatrist. Jane O disappears again this time with her child and it becomes a headline news.

Dr. Bryd tells Jane O's story via journal entries and memories he has kept from their visits. Dr. Bryd has his own secrets and as the story unravels you become completely immersed. I read the book and listened to the audiobook. I recommend either but the audiobooks gives a bigger punch to the story.

The Girl I Was | by Jeneva Rose

Thirty year old Alexis Spencer has had a terrible day. She decides to drink her troubles away. When she wakes up she finds herself in a bed that isn't hers. She is in a frat house and has no idea how she ended up there. She soon discovers that she's woken up in the year 2002 and is on her old college campus. 

Alexis runs into her 2002 self who goes by Lexi. Alexis is able to convince Lexi that she is her future self. She moves into her dorm room with her and they say that Alexis is Lexi's older sister. Alexis and Lexi set a plan in motion to get Alexis back to the future but along the way Alexis makes it her personal mission to get Lexi on a better path and improve their future life. 

The Girl I was is told through Alexis point of view. The story moves along quickly and has some incredibly emotional moments. The characters aren't exactly likable but it works for this story and helps to push it along. Besides we all have out ugly character moments which adds a level of belief.

I listened to this book and the narrater was outstanding and became Alexis. I have already recommend this book to a few friends. I wish I had read this sooner and it hadn't sat in my TBR pile. 

The Poppy Fields | by Nikki Erlick

The Poppy Fields had so much promise but halfway through it failed to deliver. The Poppy Fields is a treatment center that is located in a remote part of the California desert. The treatment center specializes in an experimental procedure that puts people into a deep sleep for a period of time in order to help them get relief from the heartache of loss. 

The book follows four different strangers who embark on the journey to California together. The strangers each have their own reason for wanting to go to the Poppy Fields which is revealed as the drive to California. 

The story is told in multiple point of views. There is a large cast of characters but it's fairly easy to tell them apart. This book wasn't for me but I can see how others would enjoy it more than I did. 

Bad Publicity | by Bianca Gillam

Published: May 20, 2025

Andie has landed her dream job as a senior book publicist. On her first day of work she is assigned to one of their biggest authors, Jack Carlson. The very Jack Carlson who ruined her life over 5 years ago when they were attending the same university.  Jack is infuriatingly handsome and talented and not only does Andie have to be his publicist she has to go on a 4 month book tour with him across Europe. 

Andie plans to be professional and calls for a true  but the past has a way of sneaking up on her again and again. This makes her time with Jack more than challenging as she is fueled by anger, betrayal, grief, humiliation and heartache.

The story of Andie and Jack is a simple, entertaining and fast read. Gillam a debut author captured the enemies to lovers troupe perfectly. The use of supportive characters pushes the story along. Gillam understands grief and the loss of a loved one with accuracy making the pain real which evoked strong memories for this reader.

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

The Storyteller's Death | by Ann Dávila Cardinal

 

My best friend begged and pleaded with me to read this book. She was reading it for a book club and wanted me to read it with her. I relented and was overall surprised by it. I simply wouldn't have picked this book up on my accord. 

When Isla is 8 years old she is sent to Puerto Rico to spend time with her mothers family. While she is there her father dies resulting in Isla spending every summer after with her her family in Puerto Rico. Isla enjoys her time in Puerto Rico as it gives her reprieve from her alcoholic mother. When Isla is 18 she starts get visions and the visions tell her the history of her family. A version different from what she had been told.

Isla puts on her investigators cap and looks into her family history.What she learns gives her a deeper understanding of her family and opens old wounds.

This book is compelling, full of mystery and family drama. 

The Wedding People | by Alison Espach

 

I've been putting off reading this book. It just didn't sound all that interesting to me. The write up did not capture my attention and I didn't care for the book cover. I simply did not want to read the book. My library had it available as an audiobook and I took a chance and I was pleasantly surprised. 

Phoebe is in her forties. Her husband of 20 years has left her, she hasn't completed her thesis and is losing her passion for for teaching. Years of IVF treatment has been unsuccessful and she's decided to end her life. She booked a night at the luxurious Cornwell Inn in Newport, Rhode Island. She plans to end her life at the hotel but much to her surprise and that of Lila she blurts out that she is going to kill herself with pills.

Lila is distraught not because she know Phoebe but because she is getting married at the hotel and doesn't want the festivities marred by the suicide of a stranger. Lila is going to do everything to keep Phoebe alive until after the wedding. Knocking on her door, seeking her advice and befriending her.

Phoebe quickly finds herself as part of Lila's world despite and you will too!

This character development is complex and the story is wonderful. I am sorry I put if off for so long. I really need to stop judging books by their cover. 

Providence | by Caroline Kepnes

Jon Bronson and Chloe are childhood friends. Chloe has remained friends with Jon despite the way the popular kids are school treat him. They have a close bond so on the day that Jon goes missing her world is turned upside down. Four years later Jon reappears but something about Jon is off. 

Jon discovers that people around him die and in order to keep Chloe alive he disappears.  Chloe is devastated but she carries on with her life. Jon randomly pops in with silent phone calls which make Chloe spiral.  

Meanwhile Jon lives the life of a recluse delivering papers and doing his best to stay away from people but bodies pile up. Detective Charles, aka "Eggs" is putting things together and becomes obsessed.

Providence is told in three different narratives, Chloe, Jon and Eggs. The voices are distinct which makes for good storytelling, 

The books is about 400 pages long and could do with fewer pages. There is just too much filler and not enough story telling. I was a bit bored at times but pushed through hoping for a resolution.  The only character I ended up liking at the end was Eggs. 

The book is a good enough read and difficult to review because I both loved and hated it. 

Is She Really Going Out with Him? | by Sophie Cousens

Anna Appleby is 38, recently divorced and living with her two kids and cat. She is a journalist for a struggling magazine and is competing to keep her job against her work nemesis and golden boy Will. They each have to go on seven dates and write about their experiences. 

Anna and Will go on a tech-free retreat together for work. They start to see different sides of one another because they are forced to engaged with one another. Anna discovers that her assumptions about Will are false and he's actually not that bad of a guy.

This is a super easy and fun read. It falls into the typical enemies to lovers troupe but the storyline is engaging and so are the characters. 

Maid for Each Other | By Lynn Painter

 

Publication Date: July 15, 2023

Abi Mariano is a student and working two jobs as a barista and house cleaner. She has to move out of her apartment for one week due to an infestation. She can't afford to stay in a hotel so she takes is upon herself to stay in the penthouse of one of her clients. He is supposed to be out of town so imagine her surprise when she wakes up to his parents in his apartment! They assume she is their sons girlfriend and she doesn't correct them. 

Declan Powell is a busy man and owns the penthouse Abi spent the night in. His main focus is on his career and not a love life. He's made up a girlfriend named Abby to keep his parents and others from nagging him about his love life. So when his parents tell him they met his girlfriend he is shocked!

Declan quickly discovers who the real Abi is. She needs a place to stay. He needs a pretend girlfriend so they make a deal. She will pretend to be his girlfriend for $40,000 (the amount of money she owes on her student loan).  

Abi and Declan discover that they have something between them but keep up the facade that it's just transactional. Like most RomCom's the relationship builds and readers see what's going on between before the characters do. 

Lynn Painter has written another good read. The characters are well developed and the story is told from dual point of views. I am becoming obsessed with Painters books and characters.

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

All the Men I've Loved Again | by Christine Pride

 

Publication Date: July 8, 2025

Do you remember the hit songs of 1999 and early 2000s. Can you hear a few of them in your head? If you were alive and loving music back then  All The Men I've Loved Again pull you back into the nostalgia.

I could "hear" the music being pumped off the pages.

 Cora Belle is a shy and sheltered young woman who is starting college. She's going to have to break out of her shell and find her people and place in life. She's a daddy's girl who has had advantages in life that others haven't which is going to mean that she's going to have a few eye opening moments.

Cora finds herself in a sticky situation in which her heart and that of two men are at risk. It's been twenty years since she found herself in the Lincoln/Aaron love triangle and it's about to resurface. 

This book starts of strong and had me vibing. Cora's voice and perspective is strong. Her friendships are real and her relationship with her dad is beyond sweet. The story holds until the second half and then I slowly disintegrates. Something was missing or maybe there was too much. Expect some potential triggering subjects. This book is a bit like reading someone's diary in that it has some good juicy stuff and some mundane things. Expect steam and a bit of character development confusion. 

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