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All the Books I Read (& Loved) this Year!
88
items I’ve read almost 100 books this year across many different genres! Reviews attached to each book 📕 📚
Sections
12
Romantasy
Thriller
Fantasy
Romance
Science Fiction
Mystery
Romantasy
Not even sure how to write this review as I have just finished. Must read 10 times over. So much had happened. Amazing yet again
Onyx Storm (Standard Edition) by Rebecca Yarros, Hardcover
First book I have had a hard time putting down in a while! After reading Onyx Storm and needing to get out of that despair, this was exactly what the doctor ordered. Enemies to lovers, Elves, Princes & political intrigue with just a hint of spice...
A Broken Blade (The Halfling Saga #1) by Melissa Blair, Paperback
Amazing, amazing, amazing! The world building in this book is amazing, it truly has me guessing what’s going to happen next. The magical structure is also awesome. One of my favorite elements of this book is all the individual relationships getting s...
A Shadow Crown (B&N Exclusive Edition) (The Halfling Saga #2)
I LOVE THIS SERIES. I love the characters and all of their personal struggles. The one problem I have in this book is that Keera’s struggle with addiction in the other books felt raw and real and the “not a cure but kinda a cure” in this book disappo...
A Vicious Game (B&N Exclusive Edition) (The Halfling Saga #3)
Wow just wow! This series was amazing, I haven’t been this engrossed in a series in a while. The character building, the world building-just perfect. I love an ending that makes your heart swell after a cascade of fear for your favorite characters. A...
An Honored Vow (The Halfling Saga) eBook
I’m still reeling from all that happened in the last 100 pages of this book but wow! Love the magic system, the world building, etc. I was truly shocked by a lot of the reveals in this book. A bit more spice than I’m used to but overall great read. C...
Quicksilver by Callie Hart, Paperback
If you were a fan of ‘the selection’ book series growing up, I felt this had the same vibe but more mature and with the added bonus of Fae Fantasy. Obviously the ending doesn’t seem like it will go any of the same way lol. Quite enjoyed that it was s...
Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli, Paperback
I’m loving the multiple POV of this book. I wondered about the couple of Nadir POV in book 1 but it’s all coming together now. I also loved the flashbacks in helping to understand what happened to create their reality. Can’t wait to read book 3. I lo...
Rule of the Aurora King (Artefacts of Ouranos, #2)
I LOVE and HATE a cliffhanger, especially this one. This series does keep getting better and better. I loved all the reveals and the maneuverings of the each kingdom we learned about present and past. Can’t wait for the next one!
Fate of the Sun King by Nisha J. Tuli, Paperback
Nisha did a number on me man. The way she made you love and root for these characters was a masterpiece. I am so sad it’s over, and wish we had more of the ending to know more of their futures. I loves how everyone’s endings got tied up in a neat lit...
Tale of the Heart Queen by Nisha J. Tuli, Paperback
Honestly I felt like I flew through this book. The premise and story got me hooked right away, although I feel like nothing at all was explained. I love a series but prefer when there's an ending on each book, not just a random stopping point. Guess ...
Spark of the Everflame: A Novel by Penn Cole, Paperback
I suppose I should have known it would be a cliffhanger after last books ending but come on!!! Especially after I realized the last book in the series isn’t out yet. Can’t wait to know where we go next and find out what our mysterious guardians have ...
Glow of the Everflame: Kindred's Curse 2
Another to be continued ending and no word on when the last damn book will come out is a travesty. I am so in love with this series it makes me mad. And also 1000 pages at the beginning of this book felt like too little but at the end doesn’t seem to...
Heat of the Everflame: A Novel - Cole, Penn
This book was something. I’m not always into books where I feel the romance is meant as an overwhelming point of the plot. However reading these characters hate and love was poetry. The dueling perspectives were also wonderful, I only wish some of th...
Powerless by Lauren Roberts, Hardcover
To think such a short book could be so crushing. I mean we knew what happened in the end and the author still made us forget with how wonderful this book was. Loved hearing Adenas story and hopefully we get more of Makoto in future books.
Powerful (Special Edition): A Powerless Story by Lauren Roberts ...
The first half of this book could have conceivably been left out. I captured you. No l've captured you. Now you're my prisoner. Truly the entire plot was essentially started once they got on their solo journey and that's where this book soared. The e...
Reckless by Lauren Roberts, Hardcover
I loved and hated this book so much. I loved the setup, the plot, the characters and the ending. I did however not love the reveals; as I saw them coming for the most part. The last one of Kitts revelations was the only I didn’t see a mile away. I fe...
Fearless (B&N Exclusive Edition) by Lauren Roberts, Hardcover
Wow just wow. The last 100 or so pages of this book were a whirlwind. While I had some suspicions about the reveals of this book I didn’t have any right and that is so unusual for me. I loved every second of it. I fell in love with all of the charact...
Shield of Sparrows: Perry, Devney - Books
I just finished my relisten of this book & will probably do the whole series. I absolutely forgot how crushing this was. The loss at the end of this book was and is still one of the worst book deaths that I’ve dealt with. Right up there with the ...
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, Paperback
Did a relisten with the graphic audio of this book and forgot just how good it was! The secrets, the reveals. All amazing! The voice actors as well in the graphic audio are so amazing! Must be the coolest profession.
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros, Paperback
Sincerely can not say better things about this book. I love a good romance now and again but a fantasy where romance isn’t the main plot is my bread and butter. This whole book is phenomenal, I love the idea of the cards and their magic, I loved the ...
One Dark Window (Deluxe Limited Hardcover Edition)
Actually crying that this book is over. This dark story and its cast of twisted trees wrenched my heart apart. You don't understand how a book can make you see sunshine until its described through Ravyns window and how you yourself felt in the dark u...
Two Twisted Crowns (Deluxe Limited Hardcover Edition)
If you loved the training and trials aspect of fourth wing, you will love this book! Think Fourth wing but instead of dragons it's direwolves. I loved the premise of what got Meryn to join the army and become bonded. Her love for her family being her...
Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen, Paperback
This book was so close to a 5 star read for me but had a couple spots that were choppy and when I felt the romance overshadowed what is a really great plot! I am a sucker for a military academy where you're learning to bond with a mystical creature s...
Feathers of Ash and Hope by K J Altair, Paperback
You know in the Throne of Glass series how Arlin sets everything up for these grand surprises and reveals, well this book gave me those vibes at the end and with ToG being my favorite series I LOVED IT! it took me a minute to get back into this book ...
Trials of Embers and Trust by K J Altair, Paperback
This book does read like drinking hot chocolate. There was something so calming and comforting about a reclusive librarian forced to learn to learn magic and friendship at the same time. A book with a strong moral compass and a cozy romance was exact...
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, Paperback
I love that this book is fantasy without the war fighting or major strife like some fantasies. This fantasy romance is much more calm and relaxing and fulfilling. I loved reading this with the amazing and wonderful plants and creatures and obviously ...
The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst, Hardcover
One of my favorite sub genres of fantasy is fantasy that's rooted in reality, or just fiction with a sprinkle of fantasy. This book was exactly that to me. A classic wonderful romance with a sprinkle of magic! And that magical apartment has always kn...
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston, Paperback
While I love the plot and spice of this book, I have the same reasons as most being annoyed by it. It wasn't edited well. I get wanting a book out quick but myself and thousands of other readers will always wait for a book to be ready. Saeris and Kin...
Brimstone (Deluxe Limited Edition) by Callie Hart, Hardcover
I'm such a sucker for the trope of "training academy trainee falls for older more experienced hottie at training academy & he protects her" so much so that I feel like l've read 8 of these books this year. I usually skip all vampire books altoget...
We Who Will Die: A Novel by Stacia Stark, Hardcover
Thriller
I honestly can’t decide if I loved or hated this book. I did DNF it once last year and then gave it a second try this year. The suspense of finding out what truly happened in these tragedy’s kept me going. I am a sucker for a defined ending though so...
Verity by Colleen Hoover, Paperback
The throwback readathon clearly threw me way back as I started this series about 10 years ago. The writing and mystery still does it for sure. Quite glad I was able to get back into it. Not sure I’ll make it through the 30 plus books in this series b...
Cat and Mouse (Alex Cross Novels) by Patterson
I quite enjoyed this one in the Alex Cross series. Truly hearing the story from a more down in the dirt version of Cross was an interesting change. I do however HATE not getting the bad guy so that was annoying but I suppose there’s like 8000 left in...
Pop Goes the Weasel (Alex Cross, 5) by Patterson
The true mastermind is James Patterson for that end reveal for sure. I never even suspected it would be someone like that. This book was much slower than his other books but I enjoyed it none the less. I didn't like not getting much of the criminals ...
Roses Are Red (Alex Cross) by James Patterson
The end of the “big bad” for now was quite an ending and I also did truly enjoy the premise of these killers. I mean my teen heart obviously loves a vampire bad guy. Iykyk. But I do hope our beloved main character can catch a break soon and have some...
Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross Series #7) by James Patterson, Hardcover
The premise of this book was a nice surprise in the middle of this series. I loved getting more John Sampson in this book as he is one of my favorites in this series. I also love that this has a bit of a history background, definitely one of my favor...
Four Blind Mice (Alex Cross Series #8) by James Patterson, Paperback
The twists, the turns oh my god. I haven’t had a good thriller where I didn’t figure out the ending half way through in forever! This book was a shock the whole way through. It was quite literally shocking to the very end. Wholeheartedly recommend th...
Love, Mom (Deluxe Edition) by Iliana Xander, Paperback
Somehow the trope of dying or dead authors whose secrets are revealed is a trope I’ve read three times this year so clearly I like it. This book was the epitome of an unreliable narrator. Our pov comes from a daughter who doesn’t believe or trust any...
The Ghostwriter: A Novel by Julie Clark
Unreliable narrators. Sleepless nights. Eerie whispers. Horrible characters. These are the only things I fear I can say in this review without giving anything away. I love a good thriller and this one has me questioning things from the start. I don’t...
Beautiful Ugly: A Novel by Alice Feeney, Hardcover
Damn do I love a thriller that takes me on a journey. I loved how we were slowly revealed some of the backstories! As much as I loved the first half of this book, part 2 really brought it home for me! I’ll be binging this series for sure
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, Paperback
Another amazing book in this series! I definitely feel the first book was a bit better than this one but there was some relationship setup and breakdown that needed to happen. I do however love our protagonist and how she is the hero so I wonder how ...
The Housemaid's Secret (B&N Exclusive Edition)
I love a good short story that goes with a series to fill in some gaps and this was very cute and shockingly thrilling for being so short!
The Housemaid's Wedding: A Short Story
This book was so good and terrible at the same time. Since becoming a parent, reading anything bad happen to kids in books, it makes me sick to my stomach. I at least knew that the ba***** would get what he deserved in the end if Millie & Enzo we...
The Housemaid Is Watching (B&N Exclusive Edition)
Another phenomenal book by James Patterson! Halston was such a fun main character for this book, amazingly smart and 5 steps ahead of everyone. I love the references to the art world and the NY underground. This story was so fun with lots of twists a...
The Picasso Heist: A Thriller - James Patterson
Fantasy
I had a hard time getting through this book to start but once I got to the second half, I moved very quickly! Love the end reveal and cant wait to see where we go next.
The Iron Flower by Laurie Forest, Paperback
The change from a singular perspective to multiples were a game changer for me. I absolutely loved hearing things from everyone’s side and knowing what they were all doing towards the end goal. Also our loss 😭 iykyk but no one’s ever dead RIGHT? Ple...
The Shadow Wand by Laurie Forest, Paperback
I started this book on audio and it took me weeks to kind of get into but when I downloaded the print version, I finally flew through it. The story had so many details, it’s almost hard to keep up so maybe that’s why I didn’t like it on audio. But ov...
Lightlark (The Lightlark Saga Book 1) by Alex Aster, Paperback
The back and forth perspectives are usually some I quite enjoy! I LOVED it from one of the MMC sides but hated it from the other. If you’re a real one you know which is better obviously. I think I’ll pause on this series though until the final one co...
Nightbane (The Lightlark Saga Book 2)
I really liked this book! I did receive an advanced copy of this book for free but am leaving this review voluntarily. Books with a strong FMC who breaks all the rules are books for me. All the nuances in character relationships despite “status” or b...
Immortal Origins: Chronicles of the Immortal Trials Book 1
I love a Norse retelling and this one is great, the magic system is so fun. The romance is such an awesome slow burn! There’s betrayal and friendship and love and all the things that make a really good book!
A Fate Inked in Blood: Book One of the Saga of the Unfated
Overall this series was a great read but I did love the first book much more than this one. The slow burn was so good in book one and this book was all strife and being at odds or away from each other all book. The main character’s dynamic together w...
A Curse Carved in Bone: Book Two of the Saga of the Unfated|Hardcover
I loved the first 90% of this book! The treasure hunting, the magical objects and folklore especially taking place in so many iconic LA locations! I loved our FMCs secret backstory and how that tied her into this world of magic. I also would have lit...
Alchemy of Secrets (B&N Exclusive Edition)
Ahh this book was so conflicting for me. In some senses I really loved everything about it and in others I was so confused and felt it was too disconnected. I love a multiple POV book but I felt like this one had maybe too many and the characters fel...
Immortal Consequences: A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick
Has anyone come up with a timeline for a tandem read on this yet? Omg this was so good and I feel like inserted into the final book would be so amazing. I loved this story before and getting more of it was amazing. It even seems to open a possibility...
Fearful: A Powerless Story (B&N Exclusive Edition)
Facing one’s prejudice in a world of fae, lupine, wyvern and more! This book has elements of slow burn romance, enemies to NOT lovers. Loved it, started the second book immediately after the epic final line!
The Black Witch (Black Witch Chronicles Series #1) by Laurie Forest, Paperback
Romance
Just a cute cozy romance! It was exactly what I needed this week, no crazy plot, minor plot revelations and strife. I love the idea that the author writes all of her books out of the same town and its cast of characters, very unique!
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store: Viral TikTok Cozy Romance
Another cute and cozy book! The playlist for this one hit like crazy and I’m craving Christmas because of it. But back onto my usual high fantasy series reads! I’ll definitely come back for the rest of this series when they’re available in the librar...
The Christmas Tree Farm (Dream Harbor, Book 3)
Very cute, not your typical romance book! Loved the side stories & characters. The premise was a great idea of him being the divorce lawyer for her best friends soon to be ex husband.
How Freaking Romantic: A Novel by Emily Harding
Obviously for this book since there’s now going to be a movie about it. It was a super cute romance. Nice premise. A classic predictable happy ever after 💕
The Love Hypothesis - Hazelwood, Ali: Books
The nostalgia this book made me feel was unreal. It was like being 16 again, like being so confident and so insecure at the same time. This book felt like smelling like salt, like long-boarding down the boulevard, like having your first kiss, like un...
The Summer I Turned Pretty: 9781416968290
If the first book of this series was the joy and excitement of summer & being a teen, then the second is all the angst. And boy did that resonate with me. My husband proudly proclaims I was the most angsty teen he knew so I really get it. But it ...
It's Not Summer Without You (Summer I Turned Pretty Series #2) by Jenny Han ...
Wow this book was a rollercoaster of emotion. I felt the pain and worry and uncertainty in every page until the last chapter. The writing evokes such strong emotion, it’s amazing!! So glad she ended up with the right guy 😉
We'll Always Have Summer (Summer I Turned Pretty Series #3)
I love a character perspective on life that is so different from my own. I was definitely more with our love interest, feeling shocked and enamored that life hadn’t brought this person down and then finding it was their coping mechanism was a great p...
Great Big Beautiful Life (B&N Exclusive Edition) by Emily Henry, Hardcover
What a cute cozy romance for fall! I fell in love with Jean Marie!
Jeanie was my favorite friend in the second and third books which I accidentally read out of order so I did know the ending of what came of Jeanie & Logan. This may be my favorite...
The Pumpkin Spice Café (Dream Harbor, Book 1) by Laurie Gilmore, Paperback
I LOVED the enemies to lovers aspect of this book, it was a nice change from her slow burn romances. I didn't love the constant flashbacks, it's one thing in books I'm just not super into. This series is great! I can't believe I read the 5th book bef...
The Gingerbread Bakery (Dream Harbor, Book 5) (B&N Exclusive Edition)
I mean who can go wrong with a cute fall romance? Except there might just be something supernatural going on! This is a sapphic novel which isn’t my normal pick but didn’t really change much for me in the end, as it was mostly a spooky fall romance w...
Pumpkin Spice and Poltergeist: A cozy sapphic paranormal rom-com
Emily Henry's writing to me is so beautiful in a way that I can't describe because I can't write like her. This story was so great.
I loved reading about a woman finding out about herself. Miles' backstory was so interesting to me in how it felt so r...
Funny Story by Emily Henry, Paperback
Half way through this book I was fully prepared that no one was going to have a happy ending. I just felt there was no way it could be wrapped up into a neat little bow. This book was surprising in a way that only book lovers can understand. It had t...
Book Lovers by Emily Henry, Paperback
This was unfortunately my least favorite of this series and I obviously did read out of order again. The single dad trope and the surprise **** trope are not my jam. I did like the personalities of our main characters and was interesting to have a yo...
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House (B&N Exclusive Edition) (Dream Harbor ...
How can an author be so good that writing about someone else's happy place feels like home? Or writing about friends that made my feelings so strong I couldn't not message a childhood friend? How can a book be this good? I cried about 150 times readi...
Happy Place by Emily Henry, Paperback
This book is both 5 stars and also 0 because of how many times it made me cry. This book made me, killed me, resurrected me and killed me again. It was soul wrenching to the point of pain. Some of the writing was so vivid for me that I had to close t...
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros, Paperback
I'm generally more of a closed door romance girly but this book had me sweating. first of all as a reading girly, this starting in a library
and references to that was just perfection! I love a tortured man who falls first and where Charlottes hesita...
Waiting For You: A Novel (The Girls' House)
Maybe Emily Henry's writing style is just perfect for me or maybe I just love the way she writes in multiple timelines or maybe I just loved Poppy and Alex like they love each other. I loved this book all the way. The characters were so different and...
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, Paperback
Science Fiction
God I loved this series growing up & to hear Haymitch's story is the best final chapter. Doing a tandem read with the first hunger games and the family and history present is so satisfying. Suzanne you've done it again. This series as an adult is...
Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel) ...
What a nice reread, I forgot how much I enjoyed this book and the characters. 💕
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
A great reread and so many connections to the new book! 📕
Catching Fire - (The Hunger Games): 9780545586177
I forgot just how devastating this book truly was. This book isn’t what one would consider a war book but listening to that last chapter again and being reminded of what a world looks like after war and devastating loss, was shocking. The writing whi...
Mockingjay (The Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins
If I had rated this book in high school it would have been a 5 stars hands down, today probably 3 so we will give it 4 for fairness. I think re-reading hunger games got me thinking it would be nice to revisit some of my old favorites. This story reso...
Divergent (Divergent Series #1) by Veronica Roth, Paperback
I don’t know if some of the hate for this book was because of the elusive author or what but I truly enjoyed it. The magic system was really interesting and unique. I enjoyed the characters and reveals & the mystery of the authors true identity k...
Silver Elite: Francis, Dani - Books
Mystery
I needed a good book so badly. I have been in a bit of a slump, starting and stopping 4 books that didn’t click and then this book sucked me right in. I love a bit of mystery & intrigue. Especially when coupled with billions of dollars and potent...
The Inheritance Games (Inheritance Games Series #1)
I love a good mystery, I also love a good book about finding yourself. There’s something so wholesome about solving a family mystery and this is the book of it. Lots of twists and turns but not so shocking or gruesome that you can’t sleep at night!
The Hawthorne Legacy (Inheritance Games Series #2)
I loved the addition of a new and nefarious character! I loved seeing our love interests (all of them) kind of come together in a way that felt more stable and safe and healthy. A lot of books really push unhealthy relationships as some bad trope and...
The Final Gambit (Inheritance Games Series #3)
Literary Fiction
This book was profound. The writing was phenomenal, I saved so many quotes and didn’t save so many because my eyes were glued to the pages and I had to read fast so I could get to the end. The premise of this book and the perils it leads our multiple...
Wild Dark Shore: A Novel|Hardcover
Biography
The fact that I read the entirety of this book in one sitting should tell you something. Despite growing up in such a different lifestyle than Mayci, I felt myself reflected in her fears and shame of not being "perfect" whether in Mormonism or in her...
Told You So by Mayci Neeley, Hardcover
True Crime
This book was an emotional journey, Michelle’s voice really carries you on a journey between feeling for the victims and trying to understand the perpetrator. Such a shame she did not live to see him caught. My only negative on the book is that it di...
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State ...
Self Help
The ideas in this book are so real and true. I think as we are already people who spend so much time outside that it felt a little preachy to me. I do think if you are someone who is struggling to get your kids off screen time or out into nature and ...
Outdoor Kids in an Inside World: Family Guide
Historical Fiction
I went into this book with the wrong idea of what it was I think! I don’t know why I had the impression it was going to be merely a historical fiction romance. It was not quite that lol still fantastic writing and great characters and friendships, th...
The Secret of Drulea Cottage: Scottish Romance
Memoir
There was obviously such a nostalgia factor in why I picked this book up. I absolutely adored Alyson Stoner growing up and loved and related to her characters. This book was so interesting to hear the behind the scenes and her trials and tribulations...
Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything: A Memoir by Alyson Stoner ...