This is another I had heard about over and over again, particularly on TikTok with women having their hockey men reading certain....spicy scenes. Eventually, I wanted to find out what all the hype was about.
Anastasia is a pairs figure skater with Olympic dreams and a horrible partner/friend in Aaron. Nate is a hockey star determined to keep his team out of trouble. Of course, trouble happens, throwing them into having to share a rink, constantly crossing paths, with sparks and fists flying.
It gave very 'The Cutting Edge' feels, with a ton of smut. Admittedly, I couldn't understand why Nate liked Anastasia....she wasn't a nice person, so his pursuit of her didn't make sense to me. Nate was a big Golden Retriever, and I loved him. Aaron was just a horrible human, with NO redeeming qualities. The rest of the supporting cast were what made this book for me, to be honest. Henry, JJ, Lola were great. 
There was a lack of real conflict other than Aaron's mere existence, and Nate's motivation was absent other than wanting Anastasia. And while I do enjoy spice, I need more than endless sex scenes to make a book a good read. 
Overall, this one was ok. 

I had heard so much hype about this book both before and after its release. It was one of the ones that kept coming across my screen, and when I came across a copy with STUNNING sprayed edges at my local Indigo, I decided to give it a shot. And it was definitely worth it.
This is a chosen one, forced proximity type tale, with Freya's magic being discovered by men who wish to use her to rule. She is 'fated' to bring the one who controls her fate to power, so of course, men assume they are the one meant to control her. It is so patriarchal it made me grind my teeth, especially when most of her actions were motivated by attempts to protect her horrible family, who most definitely did NOT deserve her protection. 
* Side note: I've read a few books lately with this plot thread of ungrateful, awful families, and it is definitely one that gets under my skin...people don't deserve your loyalty just because they are family!
Okay, rant aside, Freya finds herself tied to her second awful husband, but at least this one has a hot Viking son who is 'fated' to protect her. Their banter is hilarious, Freya's determination to fulfil her fate while also hating it at the same time is relatable and empowering. I figured one a twist about 2/3 of the way through, so wasn't too surprised when it was revealed near the end, but it definitely made me excited for the next book.
I loved this Scandinavian fantasy, the incredible world building and beautiful writing drawing you into the world. And of course, Bjorn.

Karen McManus is one of my 'must read' authors, and everything she writes ends up on my bookshelf the same week it releases. Her ability to create twisty YA thrillers is unmatched, and she leaves you guessing until the very last chapter.
While this one wasn't perfect, it was definitely a ride I enjoyed!
It what I can only describe as a new-aged Heartbreakers (2001 movie with Jennifer Love Hewitt), you follow Kat and her mother as they try to disentangle themselves from a life of crime under the thumb of the 'savior' Gem. In a dual POV with short term stepbrother Liam, you find he is simply trying to protect everyone from his toxic, catfishing father, who Kat's mother was married to in a dramatic 24hr slip in Vegas. 
The two meet again, each side navigating mutual schemes against an affluent Maine family, which leads to murder, secrets and more drama than I can write in a short review. While at times I couldn't really connect with the characters and their choices, I couldn't seem to put the book down, desperate to see who the real master mind was behind everything that was occurring, because if there is one thing I've learned about McManus' writing is 'it's never who you think'. 
This time, however, I figured it out near the end, although it didn't lessen the thrill of the final chapters. I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves mysteries and hijinx.

It is rare that a sequel does the original justice. But this one was even better than the first, but in it's own unique way. Following Paedyn and Kai after the fallout of the final Trial and her treason, the enemies to lovers have returned to enemies (or so they think) as he is tasked by Kitt to hunt her down. 
Kai of course finds her, and the two are yet again thrown into forced proximity and fights for survival every step of the way as Kai tries to fulfill his duty, and Paedyn fights for her life. Of course, they can't deny their attraction and the feelings that developed in book one, and we finally get that kiss we were dying for. In fact, we get a few swoon worthy scenes that leave you breathless. You watch as their respective duties crumble in favor of their feelings, and by the time you reach the end you can't help but sigh in relief. 
Until that final chapter. A betrayal is woven through the book, but you don't realize the form it will take (only the puppet master at the helm) until the final pages, and everything comes crashing down.
Why?????? Why would be do that? Why would REDACTED have Kitt do that, knowing how Kai felt, knowing it made no sense!? I can't wait for book three to finally understand WHYYYY!!!!!!

I'd been hearing about this book on booktok for a while. Like ACOTAR and several other popular books, this one kept popping up on my feed, people raving about it. So I figured I'd give it a go, and I'm glad I did.
This is a typical power imbalance, forced proximity tale between an ordinary girl and a magical boy. Paedyn is strong willed and determined, Kai is cocky and haunted, each bound by very different fates. When they find themselves facing against each other in a trial of survival, they team up to make it to the end.
I don't normally like overly cocky MMCs but Kai had me kicking my feet and squeeing at his silver tongue. His declarations and flirtatious teasing left me grinning like an idiot over a fictional boy I wished was real. Paedyn was flawed and strong and loved her friends, and I enjoyed her as an MC....except with the whole Kitt thing. Yes, I understand why, but at the same time, hated what she did to him. I truly believed he could have been an ally, but he made him an enemy with her choices.
The similarities with Hunger Games were almost too obvious. Some scenes finding resolution too conveniently that it bordered on unrealistic (even for fiction) and that lessened some of the tension. But overall, I loved every minute of this ride and even ran out to buy the second book the next day. Definitely worth the hype. 

This book has been one of my most anticipated for quite a while. I've known the author since our Wattpad days, and couldn't wait to support her debut. I was definitely not disappointed.
Based on Chinese stories from her grandfather, brushed with a touch of modern twists, this is a thrilling, immersive story of survival and magic that exceeded my expectations.
The foundation is expected...a girl with a rare magic who wants nothing more than to survive and protect her family. Rome has invaded their world (through a rip in the sky rather than the historical practices of decimation) and taken control of much of her realm. After a chance meeting, Ruying is captured and must choose between being a traitor to her people, and protecting those she loves.
 What reaches beyond the typical survival story is the way Chang weaves such beautiful imagery and Chinese story lines into the tale, drawing you in with her masterful depictions. You root for Ruying while questioning her choices (would her sister really protect Ruying the way Ruying is trying to protect her?) and hope for her to harness her power and find the answers she is seeking. It isnt until the last few chapters that more is revealed that turns her world (yet again) on its head.
I can't decide if I believe the current trajectory set before us (is Antony the ruthless prince he is depicted? Or has Ruying been manipulated by her childhood friend?). I will have to wait for the sequel to find out. 

I have only a few automatic buy authors, and Ali Hazelwood is one of them. I will admit I was late to her fan club, only discovering her books in July 2023, but I've been hooked ever since. Her unique way of combining women in STEM with swoon worthy MMCs is unlike anything else on the shelves, and I can't get enough. So of course, I bought her latest the moment it hit shelves. And while I enjoyed it, it didn't live up to the rest.
One of the things I love about Hazelwood's books is the women in STEM....infusing science heavily into the plots, with the romance happening around it. Her FMCs are relatable (even if they're a million times smarter than me) and the science gives an original twist. But this book felt too light on the science, too heavy on the smut. And while I do enjoy smut (I read SJM, after all) it felt almost 50 Shades-esque and at times detracted from the true development of the story. 
Rue was flat and hard to relate to, while Eli was a bit of a simp...and not even in the endearing way. He fell too hard too fast with no understanding why, since Rue was so unlikable. I enjoyed the BFF character Tisha and the sassy sister more than I did the actual main character.
Overall, it was okay. Not her best, but not terrible either.

This one has been in my TBR for ages, and when I finally grabbed a copy I was excited to get started. I love anything dark academia, with boarding schools, secret societies and all that jazz. This one had all of what I was looking for, with a Ninth House meets The Missing Sister vibes, but didn't give me the chills I was hoping for.
Overall, the characters were good. Maren has solid stakes in trying to find out what happened to her best friend Polly, and is the type of strong female character I like to read. But I didn't connect with her as much as I liked. She lacked depth, her entire world focused around the society and her mission. I would have liked to see more of her life outside the society, what SHE had to loose other than the answers she was seeking. The side characters were good, but much of the same. Not fleshed out enough to make you truly connect and root for them. Gavin and Jordan felt superfluous, just there to round things out. Especially Jordan...I felt like Maren only paid attention to her when she needed something which left a sour taste for me. 
The trials and the society were fun. Very culty, which is what I wanted. That crazy darkness that some elite schools are haunted by. But even here, it didn't reach a full five stars, as the trials felt unrealistic, too much happening in the catacombs in overly controlled situations. 
It was a fun read, for sure, but didn't live up to my hopes to earn a higher rating.

As I worked my way through the Throne of Glass series, I saw countless posts saying Kingdom of Ash was the best, and most tragic. I was excited and nervous to start this one because of that, and have to say those comments were right.
Anyone who has read anything by SJM knows that there are so many plot threads it at times feels impossible to tie them all off. Some main, some secondary, and some seem so irrelevant they don't even catch your attention until that 'aha' moment. But SJM is a master at closing those threads, and that is definitely what happened here. 
The start was sad and emotional as Aelin faces her fate (that begins at the end of Tower of Dawn) and you see the strong willed woman start to crumble. But not only that, her journey to put herself back together was masterfully done, weaving her natural swagger with the PTSD she faces. All the side characters have well thought out, significant and emotional plot lines of their own, and no matter what POV you're reading, you are invested. It is rare for every chapter to captivate, to be action packed and emotionally driven, but this book does that from start to finish.
The ending was not what I was expecting, but was perfect. The way those side characters are truly vital to the story is unique and truly show that the characters are all connected to the main plot line. 
Overall, the perfect ending to an incredible series. Even if I did cry more than once.

I have to admit, I read this one because of the hype. Divine Rivals was on all the lists, all over Booktok, and seemed to be one of those 'must reads', and I had a bit of FOMO. 
When I read DR, I found it anticlimactic to the hype. This one was no different. Don't get me wrong...it was good. The world building and the stakes and the love story were enchanting, overcoming odds that you weren't sure were possible. But just like with DR, I was left wondering...why bother including the fantasy aspect of the Gods?
The entire plot could have been exactly the same without that fantasy element. With the 1940's feel in the settings and demeanours, it could have easily been WWII rather than a Gods War. In fact, I think I would have liked it better if that had been the case. The Gods inclusion felt shoehorned in, completely without purpose other than for a sense of originality. All the war elements were the same...shrapnel, losing loved ones, fleeing homes and torn apart lovers. I adored the journey of Iris and Roman, each of them striving to overcome their respective odds and find their way back to each other. The supporting characters were fleshed out and nuanced, and really built the story. In reality, if the Gods had been left out, I probably would have given this a full five stars, but I just couldn't get over the sense that they were unnecessary.
Overall, just like with DR, it was a good, original read and I do recommend it for those who love distant love, rivals to lovers, and all the longing of war stories.