Jen

Fascinating and well researched with some incredible tales. It's hard to rate as I would say this is more a reference book and so much work went into it. Some of the stories will stay with me for a long time and I'll certainly reference back to it. I did find it a little dry in places but the audiobook did help keep it engaging. Really interesting stuff and a must-read piece of feminist modern history.

My least fave EmHen so far.

Read this for book club. Just wasn't for me. And the 'new' chapter and interview at the end of the edition I had was riddled with typos. Mixing it up between physical and audio made this manageable for me! 😅

I really enjoyed this and I think it's my new favourite comfort read. Such a delightful book.

Thank you to the publisher Schoolastic for sending me an advance copy!

I love F1 and F1 romances are right up my street and folks, this was such a great read! It was clear the author had done their research as we had a lot more about the sport and it felt authentic. Additionally, we love to see women in STEM and our female lead is an engineer! I thought the characters were likable and the rivalry between teammates believable. I would have been obsessed with this book if I had read it back when I was a teenager and I hope some teenage F1 fans pick up this book because it is so fun. It's a real f1 fantasy and pure escapism but I had a great time and honestly, that's all that matters

"Love is something far deeper when it grows like wildflowers, which thrive even in the worst elements as long as the soil is rich.”

Thank you to Netgalley for the Advance Reader Copy in return for an honest review. This was a sweet and charming contemporary romance, but I would argue the biggest romance here is not between the two leads but rather of books and writing. It's a small exploration into writing today, and I felt a lot of resonance with our characters in that regard. I really liked the premise and the story on the whole, but some plot points fell a little flat and felt redundant (such as the ‘friendship’ with Holly and the ‘car accident’). It touched on some really interesting and heart warming topics but I did struggle with the main character at times because she felt very young and whilst I did see her grow throughout the book, there were one too many cringey inner dialogue moments that took me out of it and I just couldn’t get to like her as much as I wanted to (the opening few scenes has far too many mentions of Jane Austen). However, the love interest was a welcome change from the typical ‘Alpha male’ we see in lots of romance books, and he appeared to have depth: there was just a lot of untapped potential to add a real emotive element that I think was missing.

I wanted to love this book, but I think it’s a solid 3-star read for me. Enjoyable and memorable in places, but I’ll remember the potential it had more than anything. The book is released on 10th March!

I enjoyed this more once I got around half way through, when things started to make sense. I was grateful for the glossary at the back! I think I'll enjoy the sequel more, just because I'll not spend as much time trying to grasp the world and magic. Great ending too!

What the heck did I just read.

Thank you to Daphne Press for sending a physical ARC! This was my 1st dark romantasy and I was blown away! It was a compelling read and I could tell the author loved writing this book: it really felt like a passion project which transcended through the pages. Please check your trigger warnings for this book as it really is not for everyone but I was pleasantly surprised and already looking forward to the sequel! 

“Britannia may be burning, reduced to smoke and embers, but embers are as hot as the fire that created them. And every fire starts with a single spark.” 

SOMEONE SEDATE ME. An amazing sequel!! I can't get enough! 

Exceptional world building, writing and characters. I am devastated I have finished it. What an incredible book, instantly in my top 10. Just wow. Everything I wanted and more. A truly brilliant, brilliant book. Oof. 

Love it and I need more immediately.

Thank you Tandem Collective UK for the book and hosting a read along. 

This book is very accessible and enjoyable to read and is perfect for a holiday, if you're travelling or need a palette cleanse. Enya is a wonderful, selfless lead and you root for her from the get-go. I personally liked how local it was to me: Bath, Bristol and the Cotswolds all feature which was a pleasant surprise! The book does talk about grief and how we live with it but also gently nudges you to understand that you are worthy and deserving of happiness too. A really lovely read with a satisfying ending.

I didn't want this to be a novella. I wanted this to be an epic novel with political intrigue, manipulation, romance...sigh. 

I think the cons outweigh the pros for me with this book. I would class this as a cozy fantasy tbh, as the worldbuilding is practically non-existent and the plot and backstory is barely there. I did enjoy the banter and this was a very quick read but the ending? Erm that's not an ending, that's just building up for the climax, it's so bizarre. Could've easily been a standalone.

Thank you PanMacmillian and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Oh Harriet, what a life she led! The sister of the infamous Duchess (see the Keira Knightley film), Harriet has some interesting similarities as well as heartbreaks. I was rooting for her even though she frustrated me and awful lot. Her true love was a romance of both joy and suffering and I really felt for her. And yet what could she do? A woman of her station has remarkably little freedom which makes it all the more maddening. And the men in this book! Eugh. 

I found the story of her life fascinating but I do wish it had been a bit more about her biography rather than just the romance - the parts towards the end and epilogue were really interesting. I had hoped for a more intimate telling but there was so much of just that: telling rather than showing. However it's written in a way that's supposed to be letters, so it makes sense but it's not a format I've always been fond of as it leaves me feeling detached to characters. 

I appreciated the short chapter lengths and I'm left feeling fascinated about this woman, her family and society in Georgian/Regency England that is a bit more scandalous than what we are led to believe. 

Thank you to Atlantic Books and NetGally for the eARC. 

This is a debut contemporary romance book for fans of STEMisnist fiction. Our two leads have a work-place rivalry but find a common connection over a side project and a case of cute mistaken-identity follows. 

I really liked the idea of this book and thought the cover was cute too. However, whilst I do expect some STEM aspects, this books was about 80% STEM with all the technical lingo to boot and only 20% romance. It was so very dry and very heavy on theoretical physics that I ended up skimming those parts. The romance itself didn't really kick off in earnest until about 60% through and then when it did it was 0-60mph and gave me whiplash. A redeeming feature was no 3rd act breakup which was a relief but by this point I was just ready for the book to end. A real shame as I had high hopes for this one. Maybe the authors next book will focus more on the characters and less on the science. But then again, those who work in STEM themselves might really enjoy that! 

I feel a little mean rating this so low as the author has drawn on her own experiences as an amputee but this book was not for me. I found the writing style very simple, full of clichés and just a bit soppy with no depth. I don't think I'm the target audience for this novel...! 

  💫 Themes: cyberpunk, family, heist, eat the rich, empowering, queer 📖 Started reading: 19/01/25 📕Finished reading: 25/01/25
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
💬 “The ones we love are never truly lost.”

💕 MY THOUGHTS: This was a surprisingly enjoyable sci-fi heist which I really enjoyed! It's diverse and funny, has heart and action in abundance, and strikes the right balance of it all. It was a perfect blend of Ocean's Eight meets Cyberpunk 2077 and I probably could've read this in a day if I had the chance as it was easy to pick up and speed through with a fast-paced story. I felt like I was part of the crew and all of the crew were unique characters in themselves with their own motives and goals. I think I just wanted more: perhaps the 1 narrator/POV made the experience limited in a way that could have been expanded without feeling bloated. A must-read if you're looking to diversify your reading and this is an author I'll be keeping an eye on in the future. 

  💫 Themes: enemies to lovers, friends of friends, wedding planning, funny, Desi rep 📖 Started reading: 11/01/25 📕Finished reading: 20/01/25
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
💬 “She could hear the steady beat of his heart...it was so soothing and felt so right.”

💭 SYNOPSIS: With aspirations of taking over her family's event planning business, Bobbi knows that one misstep in managing the Kareena Mann and Prem Verma (#Vermann) party, along with the other weddings on her plate, will only give her uncle another reason not to promote her. That means Kareena's big day and Bobbi's future career are on the line.
Bunty will do anything for his best friend, even though he has his hands full in finding a new location for his next restaurant while also playing mediator between his brother and father, the celebrated Naan King. When Prem asks Bunty to help with the wedding menu, he agrees, especially since it puts him in close proximity to the delicious Bobbi Kaur. When a mystery shaadi saboteur starts leaving threatening notes, and cancelling cake orders, Bunty and Bobbi have no choice but to call a truce and face the volatile attraction they have for each other. 
💕 MY THOUGHTS: I am continuing to try and read more diversely and the 1st book by this author was enjoyable, light and easy to read. The next book does what it says on the tin but I think the writing was a great improvement from the previous book which was a pleasant surprise. The characters were funny, energetic and full of life although some of the subplots were a little unnecessary and tried (and failed) to create jeopardy. I think this book, overall, deserves more attention than it has and it's better written than a lot of the mass-market romance books yet just as fun, easy and accessible to read as those white writers. The cover and the title are a potential hindrance: it deserves so much better! I will absolutely be reading the 3rd one when I get a chance: especially if I need a light and fun read. 
 

  💫 Themes: wlw, robin hood retelling, historic, found family, funny with heart  📖 Started reading: 14/01/25 📕Finished reading: 19/01/25
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ 
💬 “That's all we can do. Fuck the fascists, and introspect.” 💭 SYNOPSIS: Mariel, a newly blooded and perpetually grumpy captain of the Merry Men, is desperate to live up to the legacy of her grandfather, the legendary Robin Hood. Clem, a too-perky backwoods healer known for her new-fangled cures, just wants to help people.
When Mariel's ramshackle band of bandits kidnap Clem as retribution for her guardian helping the Sheriff of Nottingham, all seems to be going (sort of) to plan ... until Jack Hartley, Mariel's father and Commander of the Merry Men, is captured in a deadly ambush. Determined to prove herself, Mariel sets out to get him back – with her annoyingly cheerful kidnappee in tow.
💕 MY THOUGHTS: My previous read was super heavy so I needed something light and fun and totally different and this YA is exactly what I needed. It was really easy to read with a lovable band of misfit characters with wholesome themes of found family and love and identity. The romance was really sweet but not actually the main plot point: there was plenty going on which actually made the romance all the more sweeter in between the action and adventure. I did find some of the writing very modern in that it was a little immersion-breaking for me (think Fourth Wing style) but overall, it was really fun. I think this is my kind of cosy fantasy/historical fiction: where stuff does actually happen. One of the better YA books I've read recently! 
 

  💫 Themes: lighthearted, humorous, cosy, magic, found family 📖 Started reading: 14/12/24 📕Finished reading: 10/01/25
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ 
💬 “We're all monsters in the end. At least mine lives in the light”.


💭 SYNOPSIS: With an ailing family to support, Evie Sage's employment status isn't just important, it's vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn's most infamous Villain results in a job offer-naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don't find evil so attractive, Evie.
💕 MY THOUGHTS: This was such a light and fun romantasy and I think this is the perfect ‘cosy fantasy' for me. It had slightly higher stakes than others in that subgenre, which is probably why I enjoyed it more than others. The male lead was really interesting and I really looked forward to his chapters: we love a misunderstood villain! I imagined him to be something like Loki. My main grievance with cosy fantasies is the lack of worldbuilding and this was no different. I needed a little more to understand the world and whilst we did get some, it was nearly enough. As such the setting did feel very small and flat which was a shame. The female lead had her moments that really made me laugh. Actually, the book made me laugh more than I thought: I think the author is great at situational humour and dialogue! I found some of the slower chapters where they talk about the running of the villain's ‘ business' as such a little too close to an office job to which I did start to switch off and skim those sections. It was far too like my real job: and I want escapism! 

I am annoyed that it finished on a cliffhanger: it wasn't needed and I would've happily given it a higher rating if it was all wrapped up!
 

  💫 Themes: meet cute, slow burn, friends to lovers, neurodivergent rep, friendship  📖 Started reading: 04/01/25 📕Finished reading: 09/01/25
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ 
💬 “This might be my favorite romance book, but we're my favorite love story.” 
💭 SYNOPSIS: As a chronic procrastinator, Henry Turner always knew his junior year in college wasn't going to be easy. That was before he made ice hockey captain as well as landing himself in a difficult class with his least favourite professor. Thankfully, it's then that Henry meets Halle, a fellow junior who he immediately befriends. Academic pressure has never been a struggle for Halle, but as an introverted people pleaser with a tendency to overcommit herself, she can't help but offer to help Henry pass his class. In turn he offers to help make college life a little more inspiring – just the thing she needs as an aspiring novelist...
💕 MY THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed the third book by this author although I do want to caveat that by saying that this book already assumes you've read both ‘Icebreaker' and ‘Wildfire': there are so many characters who are imperative to the story that aren't introduced and if you haven't read the others then you will get lost with who these people are, as there is no description of them or their relationships to one another!   Henry, the MC is a really likeable male lead, however he does seem too good to be true: he's a real feminist and at times it felt a little insincere and immersion breaking. The female lead was a refreshing young woman and I could absolutely see myself in her at times, particularly with the not-great ex-boyfriend you have from school. It was quite sobering in places which made it feel more authentic than the previous books. In fact I would say that this one felt the most grounded. I think Henry was such a strong character ...but the others suffered because of it. Having a neurodivergent male romance lead was super refreshing and I really hope there are more. I understood some of the things he did and said and at other times I think it bordered on cliches and assumptions. I recommend this book if you've read Icebreaker and Wildfire but do not recommend it as a standalone which is a pity. I would like to see this author do something else now and kind of leave these characters be. 
 

  💫 Themes: life, loss, purpose, emotional, reflective, inspiring, slice of life 📖 Started reading: 01/01/25 📕Finished reading: 03/01/25
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
💬 “Readers make their own personal connections to words, irrespective of the writer's intentions, and each reader gains something unique.”
💭 SYNOPSIS: Sayuri Komachi is no ordinary librarian. Sensing exactly what someone is searching for in life, she provides just the book recommendation to help them find it. In this uplifting book, we meet five of Sayuri's customers, each at a different crossroads
💕 MY THOUGHTS: This book was a Christmas present from my good friend Anne (thank you!) It has just 5 chapters which are more like 5 short stories and are a slice of life into 5 very different people who are all seeking something subconsciously: which is where our librarian comes in. She is our main connection between the chapters and characters although I did delight in some little cameos later on. The pace was steady and light and even though I could've easily finished this within a day, I wanted to take my time and savour every little detail and ensure each character's story was properly absorbed before moving on to the next. I found the last story perhaps the weakest but honestly, they were all good for different reasons. I just wanted to know more about the librarian but I suppose that's part of the mystery. What a lovely little book: gently written and quietly pleasant reading experience.
 

Painfully perfect on every single way.