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Book Recs From My Shelf to Yours
22
items A mix of fantasy, romance, morally grey chaos, and soft reads that emotionally wreck me in the best way. These are the books I love, the ones I can’t stop talking about, and the ones I fully judged by their covers (no regrets).
Sections
2
YES PILE
maybe pile
YES PILE
I adored The Sirens—moody, magical, and unforgettable. But I also had to grab the B&N exclusive because those sprayed edges? Stunning. Worth it.
The Sirens: A Novel (B&N Exclusive Edition) by Emilia Hart, Hardcover
This book is a chaotic, spice-first ride with just enough plot to keep you hooked. The main character drove me up the wall, but Leo? Leo owns my heart. It’s definitely more smut-with-fantasy than the other way around, and the worldbuilding is minimal...
Kiss of the Basilisk (Deluxe Edition)
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
A slow, dreamlike fantasy that feels like wandering through a midnight fairytale. The plot unfolds like smoke, the romance is quiet but intense, and the atmosphere? Unmatched. If you love magic without explanation...
The Night Circus: A Novel by Erin Morgenstern
Come for the gold, stay for the trauma. This starts as a dark, glimmery twist on the King Midas myth and slowly unravels into a story of survival, power, and one girl’s unhinged glow-up. The writing is sharp, the world is brutal, and the main charact...
Gild (The Plated Prisoner, 1)
It reads like a love letter but unfolds like a quiet rebellion. This poetic, gothic reimagining of Dracula’s bride isn’t really about romance—it’s about surviving it. A sapphic, feminist exploration of power, devotion, and the slow reclaiming of free...
A Dowry of Blood #1 - S.T.Gibson
This one hit me hard. It’s a gothic fantasy full of cold mansions, political tension, and slow-burn romance. However, at its heart, it’s about being told you’re too emotional, too soft, too much… and realizing those are actually your strengths. The m...
Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid (Deluxe Collector’s Edition)
I read this in hardcover and it wrecked me—in the best way. It’s dark, lyrical, and rooted in folklore, with themes of identity, faith, and survival woven through every page. It’s the...
The Wolf and the Woodsman Deluxe Collector's Edition: A Novel
This book shocked me in the best way. It’s eerie, lyrical, and full of slow-building horror that creeps under your skin. More than anything, it’s a story about female rage—quiet, buried, and then impossible to ignore. It doesn’t ask you to be soft. I...
Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
A gothic academic fantasy with fog-drenched cliffs, haunted mansions, and slow-burn tension. It follows a passionate architecture student sent to redesign the home of her favorite (possibly cursed) author—only to unravel dark secrets with the help of...
A Study in Drowning Deluxe Limited Edition
A sharp, subversive fairytale for anyone who’s ever wanted the princess to pick up a dagger and handle it herself. This standalone fantasy follows a quiet nun-turned-heroine on a quest to kill a prince, armed with a dog made of bones, a witch with a ...
Nettle & Bone
A haunting, high-concept gothic fantasy where trauma, power, and identity are stitched into flesh—literally. Charm, the emperor’s former mistress, runs a brothel of magically grown women who each embody a part of her psyche. When the emperor is murde...
Bone Orchard
I’ve been absolutely glued to this series and talking about it nonstop on TikTok. If you love morally gray love interests, slow-burn fantasy romance, and a main character who seriously glows up (literally and emotionally), then this one’s for you. It...
Plated Prisoner Series 5 Books by Raven Kennedy
Warm, funny, and deeply moving! This book had me laughing out loud and crying in the same chapter. Patrick’s humor and the kids’ sweet one-liners made it all the more relatable. As a parent, I loved how this story explored grief and family in a genui...
The Guncle #1 - Steven Rowley
Atmospheric, emotional, and beautifully written. The multigenerational story of women reclaiming their power through nature and witchcraft gave me chills. Perfect for fans of slow, lyrical reads with a haunting feminist edge.
Weyward: A Novel: Hart, Emilia
Loved the dark academia vampire vibes and the enemies-to-lovers tension.
On Wings of Blood: Dark Academia Romance
This was such a fun, fast-paced read! If you’re into secret relationships, brothers’ best friend tension, and swoony cowboys with attitude, this one’s for you. The chemistry is on fire, and the “coming home” theme added just the right amount of heart...
Done and Dusted: A Rebel Blue Ranch Novel
I binged the audiobook in under 24 hours. The setting was vivid, the pacing tight, and the mystery kept me guessing the whole way. I didn’t feel super connected to the characters, but the plot had me in a chokehold. If you’re in your thriller era and...
The Lake of Lost Girls: A Novel
A tender, emotional read with a surprisingly lovable octopus at its heart.
The beginning was slow for me, but the audiobook helped me stay engaged. By the end, I was unexpectedly in tears. It’s bittersweet, heartwarming, and perfect for fans of quiet...
Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Read with Jenna Pick
This is a fast-paced, romantic fantasy standalone with dense world building and dreamy writing. It throws you right into a complex magical world but rewards you with a gripping plot, believable main character, and enemies-to-lovers tension that actua...
Amid Clouds and Bones: A Romantasy Standalone
This book broke me in the best way. The twist completely caught me off guard, and I couldn’t stop thinking (or crying) about it for days. It’s slow to start, but if you trust the process, the emotional payoff is unforgettable.
We Were Liars: Deluxe Edition
maybe pile
The Guilt Trip was a mixed bag for me—I'd rate it 3 stars. The premise pulled me in, and it kept me curious, but the ambiguous ending left me unsatisfied. That said, if you're okay with open-ended twists and messy characters, it might work as a good ...
The Guilt Trip: A Novel: Jones, Sandie
The Best Wrong Move started strong with flirty banter and a fun setup, but it lost steam for me. I gave it 3 stars—the fake dating trope had potential, but the relationship jumped to real without much buildup, and the second half leaned heavily into ...
The Best Wrong Move by Lily Parker