Category: St. Martin’s Griffin

Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: October 29th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult, Chick Lit

Publication Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

A hilarious and heartfelt rom-com about having it all, slowing down to see the big picture, and finding out that the person you least expect could be your perfect fit

Josephine Davis has spent her entire twenties building Revenant: a fashion brand headquartered in downtown Austin. When her biggest investor orders Josie to hire a consultant, the last person she expects to be working with is Will Grant – the twin brother of Josie’s ex best friend.

Sure, Will and Josie may have shared one mistake of a kiss during senior spring break nine years ago, but they’ve never been friends. She remembers him as moody; he always thought of her as shallow. Romance isn’t on the table for either of them until they blink, and realize there’s a reason they can’t stay away from each other.

But there’s Will’s sister to consider – whom Josie hasn’t spoken with since their falling out – not to mention, Will and Josie live seventeen hundred miles apart. And it’s not like she has time for a boyfriend anyway when she’s an overworked CEO. As Josie’s burnout looms while she falls deeper and harder for Will, she contends with the fact that eventually, she’ll have to make a choice: stay alone to be productive, or slow down to be in love.

First Line:

Do you ever wonder what happened to the girl who peaked in high school?

Important details about Perfect Fit

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Josie)

Content/Trigger Guidance: Perfect Fit contains themes such as death, infidelity, grief, bullying, and a car accident. Please read carefully if these trigger you.

Language: Perfect Fit contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in Perfect Fit.

Setting: Perfect Fit is mainly set in Austin, Texas, but there are also chapters set in Tennessee (Nashville), Peru (Arequipa), and Spain (Barcelona).

My Review

When I read the blurb for Perfect Fit, I was immediately interested. From what I read in the blurb, this book hit all my wants for a romance. So, I accepted the widget and jumped into reading. I am happy to say that this book was a great read.

The main storyline of Perfect Fit is centered on Josie. Josie is a twentysomething fashion designer who has built her brand up on social media and is looking to open a brick-and-mortar store. When her leading investor hires a consulting firm, Josie is all for it until she realizes who she will work with – Will Grant, the twin brother of her high school ex-best friend Zoe. Still hurting from how her friendship with Zoe ended, Josie keeps him at arm’s length. But that lasts all of a minute because everything Josie has worked so hard for is about to go up in flames. Through it all, Will is at her side. Can Josie see what she has before her, or will she let it go?

I liked Josie. To this day, she remains one of the realest characters that I have read. Take, for instance, her battle with social media. Josie put herself in exile from all sites because of the cyberbullying she endured in the early years of her business and the impact it had on her mental health. I also like that she wasn’t made out to be a superwoman CEO. Instead, as the book went on, she got progressively more and more burnt out, and I liked how the author chose to have her remedy it.

I liked Will and thought he was perfect for Josie. Initially, I thought he would be a Finance Bro (and wasn’t surprised when he admitted that he was), but that assumption was thrown out the window shortly after the book began. Will went above and beyond for Josie, both personally and professionally. He even began to mend the friendship between Josie and Zoe.

The friendship between Josie and Zoe and how it ended are a vast part of the book. The author didn’t come right out and say what happened that night at the beach. Instead, she teased it, and I was stunned when the whole story came out. That night had so much trauma, assumptions, and communication issues and it broke my heart.

The storyline with the business was interesting, but it didn’t hold my attention. I was more interested in Josie, Will, and their slow-burn romance than reading about investors and opening stores. I liked the trip that Will and Josie took to Peru and Spain. The Peru trip (and the stomach bug they both caught) broke down the last walls between Will and Josie.

There was a secondary storyline involving Josie and her current best friend. It was the only time I didn’t like Josie. Instead of confronting her best friend over something that was said while drunk, Josie stewed on it. And when everything (including the news that her best friend was supposed to tell her in private) exploded, it wasn’t very good. Thankfully, Josie’s current best friend didn’t do her dirty like Zoe and instead talked to Josie about what was happening.

The romance between Will and Josie was a slow burn, and I loved it. There was a lot of sighing, looking at lips, and sexual chemistry that was through the roof. So, when they finally had sex, I was like, “Finally.” And then, it was a wait for Josie to realize her feelings for Will (his feelings were very apparent from the get-go).

The end of Perfect Fit was perfect. I liked how the author wrapped everything up and gave Josie the closure she needed with Zoe and the HEA she deserved with Will.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Clare Gilmore for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Perfect Fit. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Perfect Fit, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Clare Gilmore:

If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of Publication: October 15th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Horror, Paranormal, Adult, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Paranormal Romance, Fiction, Halloween, Adult Fiction

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

An enemies to lovers romance with a spooky twist where two feuding writers end up on a writers retreat together at a haunted castle in Scotland

It’s been months since horror author Penelope Skinner threw a book at Neil Storm. But he was so infuriating, with his sparkling green eyes and his bestselling horror novels that claimed to break Native stereotypes. And now she’s a publishing pariah and hasn’t been able to write a word since. So when her friend invites her on a too-good-to-be-true writers retreat in a supposedly haunted Scottish castle, she seizes the opportunity. Of course, some things really are too good to be true.

Neil wants nothing less than to be trapped in a castle with the frustratingly adorable woman who threw a book at him. She drew blood! Worse still, she unleashed a serious case of self-doubt! Neil is terrified to write another bestselling “book without a soul,” as Pen called it. All Neil wants is to find inspiration, while completely avoiding her.

But as the retreat begins, Pen and Neil are stunned to find themselves trapped in a real-life ghost story. Even more horrifying, they’re stuck together and a truly shocking (extremely hot) almost-kiss has left them rethinking their feelings, and… maybe they shouldn’t have been enemies at all? But if they can’t stop the ghosts pursuing them, they may never have the chance to find out.

Full of spooky chills and even more sexy thrills, If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens is the funny, fast-paced romp romance readers have been waiting for!

First Line:

Pen wondered how drunk she must have been when she accepted this invitation.

Important details about If I Stopped Haunting You

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Pen and Neil)

Content/Trigger Guidance: If I Stopped Haunting You contains content that includes death, gore, injury, injury detail, racism, violence, blood, grief, alcohol, drug use, anxiety, body horror, and gaslighting. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

Language: If I Stopped Haunting You contains moderate swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is explicit sexual content in If I Stopped Haunting You.

Setting: If I Stopped Haunting You is set in present-day Scotland.

My Review:

When I saw the cover for If I Stopped Haunting You, I immediately wanted to read it. The cover’s illustration was terrific. Then I read the blurb, and my interest was caught even more. There is nothing like an enemies-to-lovers, forced romantic romance with a dash of horror and supernatural to curl up on the couch and read. But now that I have read it, I am a little disappointed.

The main storyline of If I Stopped Haunting You centers on Penelope (Pen) Skinner, Neil Storm, and the events at the writer’s retreat in Scotland. While I did find parts of the storyline engaging, I could not get invested in it for the most part.

The main characters and their relationship made me “meh” about the book. Pen did a number on Neil emotionally. She was just plain nasty to him for 85% of the book. Pen also blamed Neil for being blacklisted in the publishing community when it was her actions (throwing a book at Neil’s head and injuring him) that caused the blacklist. Because of that, I couldn’t wrap my head around her change of feelings for him. It was lightning quick and seemed almost forced.

I did like Neil and felt awful for him. He was suffering from a significant case of writer’s block, which was brought on by Pen’s actions at the conference. So, as with Pen, I didn’t quite agree, or like that, his feelings went straight to lust when he saw her. Again, it seemed forced.

I did like the paranormal angle. If the author had stayed more focused on the story of who the ghost was and why she was haunting the castle, I would have been more invested in the book. But I didn’t like that certain elements were left unfinished, like how the ghost was related to Pen.

The romance angle was a huge part of the book. I felt that the romance between Pen and Neil was forced and unrealistic. They went from hating each other to banging like bunnies within two chapters. In between, Pen kept up her gaslighting and abusive nature towards Neil. It all left a terrible taste in my mouth. Now, saying that there were some pretty hot and explicit sex scenes. I also did get a giggle over Pen busting in on Daniela while she was sexting with her girlfriend over Facetime.

Other elements were enjoyable, but they could not quite overcome what I didn’t like in this book. The author did a great job of showing how nondiverse the publishing industry was. She also created some memorable secondary characters I wished had more page time in the book.

The end of If I Stopped Haunting You was anticlimactic. I was expecting the author to end on a happy, right-now note. Instead, she fast-forwards a year later, and things are still happy for Pen and Neil.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Colby Wilkens for allowing me to read and review this Arc of If I Stopped Haunting You. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to If I Stopped Haunting You, then you will enjoy these books:

Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: October 15th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Fiction

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

In Erin Hahn’s latest cozy, swoony romance, Maren Laughlin has been fishing her whole life, but she’s finally ready to be caught.

At thirty-three, Maren Laughlin’s just turned down her boyfriend’s proposal, walked away from her decade-long position as a park ranger, and returned to her childhood playground in Northern Wisconsin to accept her inheritance: a decrepit waterfront bait shop. After a lifetime of letting things happen to her, she’s ready to start making her own moves, even if everyone else thinks she’s making the wrong ones. Well, not everyone—at least the local heartstopper and resort owner is on her side.

Josiah Cole has made some missteps in his life, but he’s proud of what he has: two awesome kids and the keys to the kind of getaway spot that has families coming back every summer– their up north home away from home. After his marriage dissolved, leaving him a single dad, he feels he’s the last person to judge Maren for her recent transformation (even if his best friend, her brother, wants him to feel otherwise). Besides, he genuinely likes having her around. She’s a breath of fresh air, his kids adore her (not to mention her dog, Rogers), and it doesn’t hurt that she’s beautiful.

Things between Maren and Joe are easy. So easy, they’re fully immersed in the middle before they even decide to begin. It’s not a question of should they, but rather can they make it last? Are things too easy, or is this just how real love works? In Erin Hahn’s heartwarmingly sexy Catch and Keep, Maren and Joe have to be brave enough to find out.

First Line:

“Happy birthday, sunshine!”

Important details about Catch and Keep

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Maren, Joe)

Content/Trigger Guidance: Catch and Keep contains themes that include ableism, stalking, alcohol, cyberbullying, slut-shaming, abandonment, and child abuse. Please read carefully if these trigger you.

Language: Catch and Keep contains moderate swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in Catch and Keep.

Setting: Catch and Keep is set in Wisconsin.

My Review

When I read the blurb for Catch and Keep, I was a little “meh” about it. But I have read a couple of books by Erin Hahn before and decided to give it a go. Well, wasn’t I surprised when I realized this book takes place in the same universe as Built to Last and Friends Don’t Fall in Love. Once I realized that, I started to enjoy the book.

The main storyline of Catch and Keep is split between Maren and Joe. The storyline does merge a little after the middle of the book (when Maren and Joe hook up). This book was well written and well fleshed out, with characters I loved (and one I couldn’t stand).

The storyline with Maren was a little rough to read. Maren had found fame as a YouTuber in her late teens/early twenties. Her channel was dedicated to fishing (the name Musky Maren did give me a giggle), which was her passion. She shut the channel down when a viewer started to cyberstalk her. She turned her knowledge of nature (and fishing) into a career as a park ranger. She put that career on hold after ten years when her boyfriend (and soon-to-be supervisor) proposed in public and made her throw up on his feet. She took off to upper Wisconsin, where she spent summers with her family at a resort, and where a family friend left her his bait shop when he died. The rest of her storyline centers on Maren coming to terms with her life and figuring out what she will do next. Joe and his kids are a massive part of her life from the second chapter on, and they factor in her decisions towards the end of the book.

The storyline with Joe was just as challenging to read as Maren’s was. Joe is ex-military, divorced, and has physical custody of his two children (Anders and Lucy), one who has autism. Joe’s ex-wife took off shortly after Lucy’s autism diagnosis and blamed everything on Joe (the end of the marriage, the autism diagnosis). Joe knows Maren from her summers at his parents’ resort, and he now manages. The rest of his storyline focuses on his daily life with his kids (and how much routine and therapy are needed for a small child with autism) and his reconnection with Maren.

The book didn’t start to pick up until Maren and Joe started dating, which only happened a little after halfway through. The build-up to their relationship was excellent. I loved how good Maren was with the kids and how she bonded with them. I also liked that she didn’t exactly fight her feelings for Joe. As for Joe, he was a little more cautious with Maren because his ex put him through the wringer.

I do want to address Joe’s ex-wife. Honestly, I didn’t like her from the minute she was talked about. I get that she raised the kids alone while he was serving overseas, but it didn’t excuse her taking off when he got back (and after Lucy’s diagnosis). The more she appeared in the book, the more I disliked her. She ignored everything Joe told her about Lucy and chalked it up to her being “difficult.” The culmination of that secondary storyline made me see red. I loved that Maren didn’t hold back when confronting Joe’s ex when they got to the hotel and saw how Lucy was being treated.

I also want to address Maren’s brother, Liam. Not to mince words, but he was an emotionally abusive, manipulative asshole who got his ass served to him by his wife and Joe. I’ll leave it.

I loved watching Maren grow into herself throughout the book. The only time I was iffy (and at one point, scared) for her was when she realized that her cyberstalker from years ago lived in the same town she did. Other than that, I loved seeing her grow into herself and find joy in doing what she loved (fishing).

I loved the romance in Catch and Burn. It wasn’t quite a slow burn, but it wasn’t lightning fast either. It was comfortably in the middle and believable. I also liked that while there was a chapter or two where Maren needed to take a break from Joe (to reevaluate her priorities and goals), there was never a breakup.

I loved the end of Catch and Keep. I liked how everything smoothed out for Joe and Maren. And, of course, that last chapter was excellent. I loved that they got a very much-needed HEA.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Erin Hahn for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Catch and Keep. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Catch and Keep, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Erin Hahn

Fall for Him by Andie Burke

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: September 3rd, 2024

Genre: Romance, Queer, Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Fiction, MM Romance, Contemporary Romance, Gay

Publication Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

In Fall for Him by Andie Burke, seven-hundred-fifty square feet isn’t enough for the home-renovation-fueled hatred and the building sexual tension.

Dylan Gallagher’s hot neighbor loathed him from the second he moved in, and causing a flood, falling through the floor, and landing directly onto that same neighbor’s bed probably means that’s unlikely to change. The poorly timed “It’s Raining Men” joke didn’t help.

Meanwhile, ER nurse Derek Chang’s life is a literal when-rains-it-pours nightmare. A man he hates dropped into his life along with an astronomically expensive problem originating from Derek’s own apartment’s plumbing. Also, the local HOA tyrant has been sniffing around trying to fine him for his extended, illicit banned breed dog-sitting.

Since Dylan also wants to keep the catastrophe quiet, he offers to fix the damage himself. Dylan’s sure he’s not Derek’s type, so he focuses all his ADHD hyper fixation energy on getting the repair job done as quickly as possible―avoiding doing anything stupid like acting on his very inconvenient crush. Meanwhile Derek tries to ignore that the tattooed nerd sleeping on the couch is surprisingly witty, smart, and kind, despite the long-term grudge Derek’s been holding against him. But will squeezing all their emotional baggage plus a dog into a tiny one-bedroom apartment be a major disaster…or just prove they’re made for each other?

Fall for Him combines banter, hijinks, and heart in a story of finding out what it means to fix things after your life crumbles.

First Line:

The only warning had been a millisecond of ominous crunching before the kitchen floor collapsed beneath Dylan Gallagher’s feet.

Important details about Fall for Him

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Dylan, Derek)

Content/Trigger Guidance: Fall for Him contains themes that include alcoholism, death, homophobia, death of a parent, workplace violence, anxiety, anxiety attacks, blood, physical injuries, grief, physical assault, and bullying. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

Language: Fall for Him contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderately graphic sexual content in Fall for Him.

Setting: Fall for Him is set in Frederick, Maryland.

My Review:

When I got the invite for Fall for Him, I was excited to read it. I had read Fly with Me and enjoyed Olive and Stella’s romance, so I was giddy when I realized that this was Derek’s romance. Derek was one of my favorite secondary characters in Fly with Me, and I was hoping he would get his own book.

While these books are technically not in a series, I recommend reading Fly with Me before reading Fall for Him. That first book gives a lot of background about Derek (which should have been my first clue there would be a book 2). The author goes over everything rather quickly in Fall for Him. However, the nuances and relationships are fully explained in Fly with Me.

The main storyline of Fall for Him centers around Dylan and Derek and their romance. The book literally begins with Dylan falling through the floor onto Derek’s bed and taking off from there. I found the storyline to be well-written, funny, and often sad.

The romance angle of Fall for Him was slow. While Dylan and Derek had feelings for each other, some major misunderstandings kept popping up. The most major one (and the one that broke my heart) was Dylan and Derek’s relationship with Olive’s deceased brother. That relationship and what Derek thought he knew about it almost derailed Dylan and Derek’s romance. Besides that, it was fun to see a relationship that was true to life.

Dylan’s mental health issues were also a considerable part of the book. As the mother of a daughter who has severe ADHD, I applaud the author for her true-to-life depiction of ADHD. Everything that Dylan experienced in the book mirrored things that my daughter has experienced. It was refreshing to read a book where ADHD wasn’t demonized or put down.

A secondary storyline runs throughout the book involving a nosey HOA president. I couldn’t believe her audacity and the power trip she was on because of that title. I will give a small snippet of what Carol did:

  • Tried to tell Derek that renovating an apartment was against HOA rules (it wasn’t)
  • Broke into Derek’s apartment with a spare key given to her (it was in case of an emergency)
  • Tried to have Dylan’s younger sister arrested for breaking and entering.
  • And my favorite
  • Accused Dylan of making porn in his apartment.

And that isn’t even all of it. Carol made me mad and even more determined not to end up in a building or house with an HOA.

The author also touches upon workplace violence (Dylan is an ER nurse) and sibling bullying (his father and brothers mercilessly bully Dylan). It is essential to understand that both happen, but only workplace violence gets any attention if brought up. Seeing how Dylan was treated by his father and brothers was heartbreaking.

The end of Fall for Him was perfect, and the epilogue had me laughing and crying. I will never hear “Death to the Patriarchy” again without picturing Dylan’s niece. I am also looking forward to seeing if there will be another book.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Andie Burke for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Fall for Him. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Given Our History by Kristyn J. Miller

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: August 27th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Adult, Academia

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Assistant professor Clara Fernsby is nothing if not driven. She’s wanted to teach history since she was fourteen, and she hasn’t let anything stand in her way—not even the love of her life. And it all paid off in the end, because she landed a well-paid position at a private liberal arts college fresh out of grad school, and this year, she’s finally up for tenure.

When Theodore Harrison is brought on for the fall semester as a visiting scholar, it’s an unwelcome blast from Clara’s past. She hasn’t spoken to Teddy since a falling out ten years ago. Now that he’s here, she’s reminded of their shared history at every autumns spent at a sleepaway camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she traded battered books and burned CDs with a quiet, dark-haired boy—and fell in love with him.

That boy might’ve been her best friend, but the man teaching HIST-322 is a total stranger. But as they spend evenings working on a shared project and brainstorming over drinks at a college bar, Clara realizes she’s at risk of falling all over again. Given their history, she knows there’s every chance he’s not interested. But history’s all down to interpretation, and this time around, she’s got no intentions of repeating it.

First Line:

I might’ve been on time, were it not for the parking meters.

Important details about Given Our History

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Clara)

Content/Trigger Guidance: Given Our History contains themes that include injury, injury detail, death of a parent, sexism, misogyny, alcohol consumption, and grief.

Language: Given Our History contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is mild sexual content in Given Our History.

Setting: Given Our History is set in Baltimore, Maryland.

My Review

Given Our History is a second chance, dual storyline book that I had no strong feelings for. It is infrequent for me not to get strong emotions about any book genre, and it is even rarer for that book to be a romance. I love romance in all shapes and forms. So, when I got the widget for this book, it was going to be something that I enjoyed. Instead, I was “meh” about it.

Don’t get me wrong; I thought the storyline for Given Our History was interesting. It tracks Teddy and Clara’s friendship from their early teens attending a camp catered towards homeschooled kids in the Blue Ridge Mountains to the event that caused them to stop talking to each other and eventually work at the same college. The author covered everything perfectly, with the main storyline split between the past and present.

I did like Clara. She was a quirky person trying her hardest to be considered for a tenured position at the college. Clara also had a lot of baggage; some centered around Teddy, but the rest centered on her home life. I loved that she was a history nerd, and the random facts that the author integrated into Teddy and Clara’s conversations (when they were teens) had me googling them. But, at the same time, I felt that Clara was too stuck on Teddy and didn’t allow anyone else in her life. The beginning scene in the prologue is where she bumps into Teddy and his girlfriend at a deli (where she is meeting a professor) and acts like a child. That theme repeated throughout the book and wasn’t a good look for a character that I otherwise liked.

I also liked Teddy. The author wasn’t as forthcoming with his life and issues as she was with Clara’s. In some spots, getting any information about Teddy other than what she shared was almost painful. Like Clara, he was a huge history nerd and had a home life that wasn’t the best.

The romance angle of the book was very slow-moving. There was a point in the book where I was mentally urging them to go faster because it was starting to bore me. I also raised an eyebrow at how old-fashioned Clara was around her younger sister (who was super spoiled). But the romance did eventually heat up, but even then, it was lukewarm.

The secondary storyline about Clara trying to get tenure made me see red when it was wrapped up. I did agree with Clara and her immediate actions after that meeting, but still, it made me so angry.

The end of Given Our History was your typical HEA. I liked that Clara and Teddy finally got together.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Kristyn J. Miller for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Given Our History. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Given Our History, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Kristyn J. Miller

Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: June 25th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Adult, Canada, Chick Lit, Women’s Fiction, Autism Spectrum Disorder

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Liz Lewis has tried everything to be what people want, but she’s always been labeled different in the boisterous world of wilderness expeditions. Her marriage to popular adventure guide Tobin Renner-Lewis is a sinkhole of toxic positivity where she’s the only one saying no.

When she gets mistaken for a server at her own thirtieth birthday party,Liz vows to stop playing a minor character in her own life. The (incredibly well-researched and scientific) plan? A crash course in confidence . . . via an improv comedy class. The catch? She’s terrible at it, and the only
person willing to practice with her is a certain extroverted wilderness guide who seems dead set on saving their marriage.

But as Liz and Tobin get closer again, she’s forced to confront all the reasons they didn’t work the first time, along with her growing suspicion that her social awkwardness might mean something deeper. Liz must learn improv’s most important lesson—“Yes, and”—or she’ll have to choose between the love she always wanted and the dreams that got away.

Brimming with heart and heat, Rules for Second Chances explores the hardest relationship question of all: can true love happen twice . . . with the same person?

First Line:

The first minute of my thirtieth birthday party is everyone I want it to be.

Important details about Rules for Second Chances

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Liz)

Content/Trigger Guidance: Rules for Second Changes contains themes that include parental neglect, abandonment, anti-autistic bias, needles, medication, lost child, lost pet, childbirth, ableism, misogyny, sexism, gaslighting, toxic relationship, infidelity, emotional abuse, anxiety, anxiety attacks, depression, alcohol consumption, and animal injury. Please read carefully if these trigger you.

Language: Rules for Second Changes contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in Rules for Second Chances.

Setting: Rules for Second Chances is set in Grey Tusk, British Columbia, Canada.

My Review

I was not expecting how this book would feel when I accepted the widget the publisher sent me. I had read the blurb and thought this would be quick and easy. Yeah, that wasn’t the case. Put it this way: I was a teary mess as the book ended. Since I read at night, that woke my husband up, and I tried to explain what set me off.

The main storyline for Rules for Second Chances is centered on Liz. When the book starts, Liz is hurrying to her thirtieth birthday party, which is thrown for her by her very popular, extroverted husband, Tobin. Liz loses her shit when a guest mistakes her for a server at her party. It pushes Liz to realize that she must take control of her life. And her way of doing that? Joining an improv class run by her husband’s best friend and asking Tobin for a divorce. Realizing she is terrible at improv, Liz decides to ask Tobin to help her practice. As she and Tobin grow closer, Liz begins to think that her social awkwardness might have a more profound meaning. Will she fold with pressure mounting at the wilderness guide company they both work for and in Liz’s personal life? Or will Liz roll with the punches, like improv has taught her? And most importantly, will she be able to save her marriage?

I started this book not liking Liz. The author didn’t give a lot of background to her. She worked with Tobin at the same wilderness guide company but was extremely socially awkward and insecure. But my dislike of her didn’t even last through the first chapter. The author made it almost painfully clear that Liz, for most of her life, was made to feel like she was a spectator in her own life. I loved seeing her character grow throughout the book. By the end of the book, she went from this mousy person who hated confrontation to this self-assured woman. It took Liz a lot of work to get where she was at the end of the book, but it was worth the journey.

Tobin was quickly my favorite character in Rules for Second Chances. He loved Liz and was willing to do anything to fix their marriage (the Little Mermaid scene will be forever etched into my brain). I liked that Tobin wasn’t as confident as he was made out to be. I also liked that he owned his mistakes and that, during one crucial scene, he was willing to let Liz go—because it would make her happy.

I did have characters I didn’t like, but I will touch on two because they were the most prevalent. I was not fond of Tobin’s father and Liz’s older sister. I was furious with both during different parts of the book. Tobin’s father was a piece of work (he was a piece of shit who managed to help ruin their wedding and an anniversary dinner). But Liz’s sister took home the award for the biggest asshole to date. She had her suspicions about Liz having autism, but instead of talking to Liz about it, she sat on it. It wasn’t in a normal conversation when she decided to tell Liz her suspicions. Instead, it was blurted out in an argument, which made it somewhat worse for Liz to hear. The author did attempt to have Liz’s sister redeem herself towards the end of the book. But Tobin’s father jetted and was only mentioned once or twice after that scene.

I loved the secondary storyline that revolved around the improv group and the self-help book. Those were some of the funniest scenes in the book, but they were also some of the most heartbreaking.

I liked how the author handled Liz’s journey through her autism diagnosis. The author’s forward explains that she wrote Liz’s character and autism journey to the best of her ability and that Liz doesn’t portray every adult autism diagnosis.

The end of Rules for Second Chances was terrific. I loved how the author ended things for Tobin and Liz. It was the perfect ending for this book!!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Maggie North for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Rules for Second Chances. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Rules for Second Chances, then you will enjoy these books:

All’s Fair in Love and War (Miss Prentice’s Protegee’s: Book 1) by Virginia Heath

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: May 28th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Regency, Fiction, Adult, Regency Romance, Humor, British Literature

Series: Miss Prentice’s Protegee’s

All’s Fair in Love and War—Book 1

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

A new Regency romp of a series, about governess who believes in cultivating joy in her charges, clashes with the children’s uncle who hired her, only to find herself falling in love.

When the flighty older sister of former naval captain, Henry Kincaid, decides on a whim to accompany her explorer husband on an expedition to Egypt, he finds himself unwittingly left in the lurch with her three unruly children and her giant, mad dog. With no clue how to manage the little rascals, a busy career at the Admiralty that requires all of his attention, and no idea when his sister is coming back, Harry has to hire an emergency governess to ensure that everything in his ordered house continues to run shipshape. In desperation, he goes to Miss Prentice’s School for Girls prepared to pay whatever it takes to get a governess quick sharp to bring order to the chaos.

Thanks to her miserable, strict upbringing, fledgling governess Georgina Rowe does not subscribe to the ethos that children should be seen and not heard. She believes childhood should be everything that hers wasn’t, filled with laughter, adventure, and discovery. Thankfully, the three Pendleton children she has been tasked with looking after are already delightfully bohemian and instantly embrace her unconventional educational ethos. Their staid, stickler-for-the-rules uncle, however, is another matter entirely…

First Line:

Georgie stared up at the strange building while her stepfather’s latest dour housekeeper supervised the unloading of her things from the back of the hackney.

Important details about All’s Fair in Love and War

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Henry and Georgina)

Series: All’s Fair in Love and War is the first book in Miss Prentice’s Protegees series.

Content/Trigger Guidance: All’s Fair in Love and War contains themes that include the death of a parent, child abuse, emotional abuse, animal cruelty, abandonment, classism, era-appropriate sexism & misogyny, anxiety, anxiety attacks, alcohol consumption, military service, military deployment, and conscription.

Language: All’s Fair in Love and War contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in All’s Fair in Love and War.

Setting: All’s Fair in Love and War is set in London (Mayfair), Plymouth, and Cawsand, England.

My Review

When I started reading All’s Fair in Love and War, I badly needed a book that didn’t require me to think about what I read. The previous three books I had read before this one were heavy books, and I badly needed one that I could coast through. Thankfully, All’s Fair in Love and War let my overstimulated brain rest.

All’s Fair in Love and War is the first book in the Miss Prentice’s Protegee’s series. Since it is the first book, there will be no warning if it is a standalone. You can dive right into this book without having to worry about that.

The storyline of All’s Fair in Love and War follows Georgina and Henry. Georgina has been trained to be a governess at a prestigious school, where she is the founder’s protege. However, she has been having issues finding work because she does not adhere to conventional teaching or raising children. Because of her childhood, which was spent being shuttled from naval base to naval base by her stepfather, she abhors rules and believes that children should be seen and not kept in the classrooms or out of sight. These beliefs have cost her jobs. When Henry, a former naval captain on the fast track to becoming an Admiral, inquired at the agency about governesses after his sister left her three children with him, Georgina was presented and hired. Georgina and Henry’s relationship begins, both working and personal. The more time the two spend together, with and without the children, the closer they get.

Georgina (or Georgie) was way ahead of her time, education-wise, and I liked that. I do have a feeling that Georgie’s views on education and childrearing will upset some of the die-hard Regency readers (too modern), But, for me, it was refreshing. I liked seeing the children bloom under Georgie’s care. I was also surprised when it was revealed (by the children) that their mother taught them and that all of them were smart beyond their years. Georgie considered that in their lessons, and I loved seeing the children learning in an environment that enriched and supported them.

I liked Georgie. She wasn’t afraid to let people know her feelings and views. Her childhood (and the abandonment at Miss Prentice’s school) did scar her, but she refused to let it bring her down. She was authentically herself and stayed true to herself throughout the book.

I also liked Henry. He did come across as an uptight, rigid person at the beginning of the book. But, as his backstory was explained, I understood why he was that way. He was terrified of reliving his childhood with irresponsible parents. But, at the same time, he was also terrified not to live up to the standards that his grandfather and the Royal Navy beat into him. He was also a workaholic and was severely stressed out when Georgie and the children came into his life. He needed them, even if he wouldn’t admit that to himself. His character growth was fun, and I loved seeing him unwind. I also loved seeing him slowly realize there is more to life than work and promotions.

I can’t write this review without mentioning the children or the dogs. The children and Norbert (the dog) stole scenes when they were in them. I laughed at their shenanigans. I also agreed with Henry when he said that they were hellions. And Norbert, you have to read the book to understand my Norbert love (and I am including his son, too). Everyone should have a Norbert.

The romance angle of All’s Fair in Love and War was sweet and a little spicy. Henry fought, falling in love with Georgie. At a point in the book, I got a little frustrated with him because he was hung up on something that happened years earlier (being forced to break an engagement). I would be rich if I had a nickel for every eye roll I did when that woman’s name was mentioned. I liked that Georgie was more straightforward. Once she got to know Henry (saw past what he projected), she fell in love with the inner him.

Of course, there is sex in this book. Because of the chemistry and the build-up that the author did with Henry and Georgie, the sex was fantastic—a little vanilla but amazing.

The end of All’s Fair in Love and War was your typical HEA. I liked that everything worked out for Henry and Georgie. But I am curious about the next book and whether it will be anything like Henry and Georgie’s romance.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Virginia Heath for allowing me to read and review this ARC of All’s Fair in Love and War. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to All’s Fair in Love and War, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Virginia Heath

It Must Be True Then by Luci Adams

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: March 12, 2024

Genre: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Adult Fiction

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

A funny and timeless novel from Luci Adams in the vein of Sophie Cousens and Kelly Harms

*One horrible, “bury your head under the covers” kind of day

*Two adorable children to nanny; and

*Their very hot, very single father

Daisy has realized you really can hit rock bottom when you lose your job, your boyfriend, and are estranged from your sister all at once. Seeking to claw her way out from the very definition of a bad year, her plan is to start by simply looking like she’s clawing her way out of rock bottom. On Instagram. Obviously.

But when she takes a stopgap job as a nanny to help a single father with his two young girls, being immersed in a close-knit, loving family starts to poke holes in her plan. Can making her not-so-picture-perfect life look perfect online really help her derailed career get back on track? Can it mend her relationship with her unreliable and painfully irritating sister? And can it get her back in the arms of her unbelievably beautiful and shallow ex…and as she gets closer to someone new, does she even want to?

A sparkling and bright novel of love, second chances, and finding your way in the age of ennui and influencers, It Must Be True Then is a delight for the millennial and Gen Z age.

First Line

You see, it all CAME down to the data in the end, I squeal, nervously.

It Must Be True Then by Luci Adams

Important details about It Must Be True Then

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Daisy)

Trigger Warnings: It Must Be True Then contains themes that include grief, car accident, bullying, cyberbullying, abandonment, anxiety & anxiety attacks, depression, alcohol consumption, the death of a parent, and the death of a spouse.

Language: It Must Be True Then contains moderate swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in It Must Be True Then.

Setting: It Must Be True Then is set around Clapham North, England. Chapters also take place in Paris, France, and Anchorage, Alaska.

My Review

For some reason, I have been avoiding contemporary romances. But when NetGalley sent me the widget for It Must Be True Then, I decided to end my dry spell. Now that I have read the book (and enjoyed it), I want to say that I can’t wait to read more books by the author. From the prologue to the end, I laughed at Daisy’s antics or cried with her.

It Must Be True Then’s storyline centers around Daisy. In a matter of a few days, Daisy lost her boyfriend, job and stopped speaking to her younger sister. Giving herself a couple of weeks to mourn the loss of her job (where she worked for 13 years) and to plan on getting her boyfriend back, Daisy decides to look for a job that can tide her over until she gets one in her field (statistics). The job she gets is a nanny to two adorable children. As Daisy settles into nannying, she grows closer to the children and their father. But she has plans, including getting a new job, getting back her ex, and making up with her sister. But things don’t always go as planned.

The author had an interesting way of writing the past year of Daisy’s life. In between the chaos that was currently happening, the author snuck in chapters that detailed how she met Jackson and what their relationship was like (hint: it wasn’t much), what happened to cause her to lose her job, and the reason she wasn’t speaking to her sister. I thought it was brilliant because it allowed me to compare that Daisy to the Daisy presented throughout the book.

Daisy was tough to like. From the beginning, she was selfish and self-centered. The author made it very clear that this was the type of person she was and was very unapologetic about it. But as the book went on and her backstory took shape, I couldn’t help but feel bad for her. Not that it made me like her anymore, but I did pity her.

I wouldn’t say I liked Daisy’s relationship with Archie for the above reasons. It was all take and no give on her side. But, to be honest with you guys and me, she was actively trying to get her ex back, so how she acted made sense. I did find her speech about not wanting children, any children, very distasteful since Archie had two. I also felt her relationship with Archie was a little forced and held no sparks.

As I said above, the secondary characters made the book. I loved Archie, his girls, and his relationship with them. I liked Daisy’s best friend, who wasn’t afraid to call Daisy out on her BS but was also very supportive. I even liked Daisy’s younger sister once she realized her way of life wasn’t working. They made the book for me.

A very important secondary storyline is also centered on Daisy and her mother. I won’t get into it, but I felt bad for Daisy’s mother. Mistakes happen, and she paid dearly for them.

Despite everything I wrote in this review, I did like the book. Daisy’s character progression was terrific to read (she matured throughout the book). There were several laugh-out-loud parts (the Instagram pictures had me dying laughing). But the one that stood out the most to me was why she lost her job. It was a well-written chapter highlighting everything wrong with today’s society, and Daisy was correct with everything she said.

The end of It Must Be True Then was sweet, and I loved that Daisy had found peace with herself. The HEA with her and Archie wasn’t forever. It was more of a right now HEA (if that makes sense).

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Luci Adams for allowing me to read and review this ARC of It Must Be True Then. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to It Must Be True Then, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Luci Adams

The Trouble with You by Ellen Feldman

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: February 20th, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, New York, Womens Fiction, Novels, Adult Fiction, World War II

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

In an exuberant post WWII New York City, a young woman is forced to reinvent her life and choose between the safe and the ethical, and the men who represent each…

Set in New York City in the heady aftermath of World War II, when the men were coming home, the women were exhaling in relief, and everyone was having babies, The Trouble with You is the story of Fanny Fabricant, whose rosy future is upended in a single instant. Educated for a career as a wife and mother, she is torn between her cousin Mimi, who is determined to keep her a “nice girl,” and her aunt Rose, who has a rebellious past of her own.

Forging a new life, she gets a job in radio serials. Then through her friendship with an actress who stars in and a man who writes the series, she comes face-to-face with the blacklist, which is wrecking lives.

Ultimately, Fanny must decide between playing it safe or doing what is right in this vivid evocation of a world that seems at once light-years away and strangely immediate.

First Line:

She was going to be a flower girl.

The Trouble with You by Ellen Feldman

Important things you need to know about The Trouble with You:

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (mainly Fannie, but the author occasionally switches to Chloe).

Trigger Warnings: The Trouble with You contains sexism, grief, death, PTSD, and antisemitism. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book.

Language: There is mild swearing in The Trouble with You. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Setting: The Trouble with You is set in New York City.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

In post-World War II New York City, Fannie lives her best life. Her husband is home from the war. They had just bought a house on the outskirts of New York City and were blissfully happy. But that all ends the night when Max suffers an aneurysm and dies in Fannie’s arms. Now a widow with a small child to care for, Fannie needs to bring income in. She soon lands a job as a secretary for a woman who runs radio serials. There, she is introduced to a whole new world that fascinates her. But, with the blacklist ongoing and HUAC running rampant, she is also afraid that her life could be torn apart as quickly as she built it back up. When one of the writers, a handsome man named Charlie, gets blacklisted, Fannie takes that opportunity to move ahead in her job. But with HUAC breathing down her neck, can Fannie do it? Can Fannie make a life for her daughter and herself and find love? Or will McCarthyism and helping a blacklisted writer be her downfall?

My review:

I rarely read books set in the years between World War II and the Vietnam War. So, when Saint Martin’s Press emailed the widget to me, and I read the blurb, I was very intrigued. I have heard of HUAC and McCarthy mentioned in real life (through documentaries), but I have yet to read a book set in that era. So, I decided to download The Trouble with You. I was pleasantly surprised because this was a fascinating look into the early roots of feminism and going against what society (at that time) expected a woman to be.

The main storyline in The Trouble with You follows Fanny and Chloe throughout their lives. It was a well-written, often heartbreaking story that kept me glued to the book. I ran the gauntlet of emotions while reading, and yes, that is a good thing!!

I enjoy reading books where I can see a character grow from child to adult, and The Trouble with You is that type of book and I got to see that with Chloe. But I also liked seeing how Fanny changed. She went from a grief-stricken young widow who didn’t have any work experience to a woman who wasn’t afraid to take charge and get what she wanted. That was something that I enjoyed reading because the author made it so life-like. Things didn’t happen from Fanny overnight. No, she had to work to get where she was in the radio serial field.

There was romance and a love triangle in The Trouble with You. At one point, Fanny was engaged to one man but in love with another and still grieving her dead husband. It was a cluster. But Fanny sorted it all out and ended up with the right guy.

The angle that explored McCarthyism and HUAC was fascinating to me. As I mentioned above, this was something that I had seen in documentaries. Having a book that had several of the characters deal with the blacklisting and trials was pretty amazing. The author didn’t tone it down, either. I had chills when I read the scene when the HUAC agents interrogated Fanny at her job.

I also liked that there was a feminist angle to the book. I adored Aunt Rose. She was light years ahead of time with some of her views. What she said during the bra-burning scene (at the end of the book) summed her up perfectly.

The end of The Trouble with You was the only part of the book I didn’t like. It did feel a little rushed. While I thought Fanny ended up with the right person, it didn’t gel with me. But other than that, I enjoyed the book.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Ellen Feldman for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Trouble with You. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Trouble with You, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Ellen Feldman

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron (Supernatural Singles: Book 3) by April Asher

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: February 13th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Witches, Contemporary, Adult, Magic, Fiction

Series: Supernatural Singles

Not the Witch You Wed—Book 1

Not Your Ex’s Hexes—Book 2 (review here)

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron—Book 3

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

In April Asher’s new Supernatural Singles novel, a witch takes a stroll on the wild-ish side, sparking an alert that saddles her with her very own Guardian Angel…who happens to be her secret crush―and new roommate.

Olive Maxwell much prefers teaching about the supernatural world to taking part in it and leaves the magical shenanigans to her two sisters―the Prima-Apparent and Bounty Hunter-In-Training. But after assigning her college students a project designed to nudge them outside their comfort zones, Olive realizes that she’s never once stepped a toe over her own…and it’s about time that changed. Her first
trip into the unknown? Moving in with her long-time crush―and friend…tattooed, motorcycle-riding, and pleasantly pierced, Baxter Donovan.

Bax Donovan, Guardian Angel not-so-extraordinaire, has acquired so many black marks on his record it looked like a scantron sheet. He’s given one last chance to keep his Guardian wings intact, a high-profile Assignment he knows all too well. Olive is usually as low-risk as it got. Hell, she wrote the safety manual. But something landed her on the Guardian Affairs radar and his guess was it had something to do with the heart-pounding stunts she’s determined to check off her Dare I Docket list.

Keeping Olive out of trouble is about to be his toughest assignment yet, and not because he’s forced to shake the dust off his feathers and embrace his inner aerialist. He’s at real risk of shattering the only Guardian Angel Code of Conduct Rule he’s yet to Don’t fall in love with your Assignment. And he isn’t so sure that’s a bad thing.

If love didn’t play by the rules, why should they?

First Line:

Committing a felony had never looked so appealing to Olive Maxwell.

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron by April Asher

Important things you need to know about Not Your Crush’s Cauldron:

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Olive and Bax).

Trigger Warnings: There are no trigger warnings in Not Your Crush’s Cauldron.

Language: There is moderate swearing in Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Setting: Not Your Crush’s Cauldron is set in New York City.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Olive is the youngest of the Maxwell triplets. After watching her sisters find true love and their true purpose in their lives (one is the Prima-Apparent and the other is a Bounty Hunter in Training), she is content to teach magic at her local college. But, when she assigns her students an assignment intended to make them go outside their comfort zone, she decides to do it with them. The first thing on her list is moving in with Bax, her longtime crush and friend.

Bax is a guardian angel who isn’t very good at his job. His record has more black marks than any other angels in the department. To keep his career, Bax is given a low-risk assignment. To his shock, his assignment is Olive. What Bax wasn’t counting on was Olive trying things outside her comfort zone. He soon begins accompanying her on different outings and fighting his growing attraction to her. One of the three rules of his department is not to get involved with their charge.

As Olive and Bax spend more time together, their attraction grows. But with Olive being Bax’s charge, he cannot make a move on her. Will Olive push Bax out of his comfort zone? Will Bax be able to control his feelings for Olive until his assignment is over? Or will he risk losing his wings for her?

Characters:

Olive Maxwell and Bax Donovan are the main characters in Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. Having been introduced to Olive in the previous book (I haven’t read the entire series, just book 2), I did think that she was pretty mellow and less low-key than her sisters. I felt there was nothing wrong with playing it safe, having outfits for certain days of the week, or having schedules for everything. That’s how she liked her life. I got grumpy during the college party scene where she overheard unkind remarks about her. But, it did get her thinking, and she decided to join the assignment with her students. Bax joining her was an enjoyable addition to the list.

Bax Donovan was an interesting character for me to read. At first, I thought I had him pegged as a slightly bad Guardian Angel who only went through the motions at his job. And I was partially right about that. Bax didn’t exactly put himself out there with his charges (the gargoyle wing scene did make me laugh and wince). But the more I read about him, the more I understood him. He liked Olive and maybe loved her early on in the book. But he had to put aside those feelings when assigned her (because of the rules). On top of that, he had to deal with a father who was borderline mentally and emotionally abusive to him. It was a lot, and he tended to deal with that by shutting down and internalizing it.

The characters from the other books do make an appearance in this one. I loved that they didn’t overtake Bax and Olive’s story. Instead, they added depth to the main storyline. There was one character (Harper) who I would love to see a book about. There were sparks between her and a certain werewolf, and I need to see if that will go anywhere (I hope!!)

My review:

I was excited when I got the widget for Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. I had enjoyed reading the previous book (Not Your Exes Hexes) and planned to read this one if/when it went on KU. So, to say I was excited is an understatement. I couldn’t wait to read this book.

The main storyline of Not Your Crush’s Cauldron centers around Olive and Bax, their romance, Bax’s assignment, Olive’s assignment, and Olive’s attempt to push her limits. It was a well-written, funny, and very hot storyline. I did get sad in spots because of different things that were brought up as the book went on. Examples are:

  • Bax’s father (who I couldn’t stand).
  • Olive’s fear of living outside her comfort zone.
  • The guardian angel conundrum.

But don’t let that stop you from reading this book!! The author interwove those themes throughout the book with tact.

The romance angle of the book was scorching hot. Now, the author did wait to have Olive and Bax have sex until well past the middle of the book. But, by then, the sexual tension had built up, and when they did have sex, it was explosive. I was surprised by Bax’s piercings (an angel with penile and nipple piercings?!?). I should have been because it was talked about up to them having sex. And, of course, the makeup sex was perfect (because each romance novel has hot makeup sex).

I loved the fantasy angle, too. The author did a great job creating a universe where all supernatural beings were out and accepted. The magic was used casually and wasn’t over the top. Even Bax’s guardian angel status (wings included) was treated normally. I loved it!!!

Several secondary storylines involved Olive’s sisters that were interwoven into her storyline. Instead of taking over (and I was afraid they would), the author kept them in the background. Each was wrapped up by the end of the book.

I do want to touch on Bax’s storyline with his father. Michael, his father, was a vast douchecanoe. I couldn’t believe what he said to Olive (at the college party or the Guardian Angels headquarters). He was such an asshat that he went out of his way to try and get Bax fired. Why? Because he couldn’t deal with his son being a guardian angel instead of a warrior. I did like how both Bax and Olive dealt with him. But I do wish that there was a resolution to that storyline. It was the only one that was left up in the air.

The end of Not Your Crush’s Cauldron was perfect. I loved how the author wrapped up Bax and Olive’s love story. I liked that Olive came to her senses and understood why Bax couldn’t tell her about his assignment. And I appreciated that Bax gave her space to do so. I hope there will be a book 4 (as mentioned at the top of this review). I would love to see Harper get her HEA.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and April Asher for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Not Your Crush’s Cauldron. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Not Your Crush’s Cauldron, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by April Asher

Suggested Playlist (feel free to add songs or remove songs)

  1. “Good Days” – SZA
  2. “Lost in the Fire” – Gesaffelstein & The Weeknd
  3. “Watermelon Sugar” – Harry Styles
  4. “Levitating” – Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby
  5. “Electric Feel” – MGMT
  6. “Sweater Weather” – The Neighbourhood
  7. “Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
  8. “Golden” – Harry Styles
  9. “Stay” – The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
  10. “Heat Waves” – Glass Animals
  11. “Shut Up and Dance” – WALK THE MOON
  12. “Deja Vu” – Olivia Rodrigo