Genevieve

This was such a beautiful love story, with an ending that completely pissed me off. Easy 5 stars.

I picked this up after seeing so many people say it would make them cry and take them on an emotional roller coaster, and they weren’t wrong. I didn’t actually cry, but I felt every emotion while reading. I listened to the audiobook, and now I definitely need a physical copy for my library.

William and Layla were absolutely made for each other. Their connection was something special, and from the very beginning it felt like they were soulmates. But life had other plans, and circumstance after circumstance kept getting in the way.

This story follows them as they meet, reconnect, and navigate all the messy, real life moments in between. Everything about their story felt so real, and I couldn’t help but root for them from beginning to end.

I’m still mad about that ending. It was powerful, emotional, and fit the story, but I wanted something completely different, a happily ever after. I think that’s what made it feel so real. Not every love story gets the ending we hope for, and this one captured that beautifully.

Still, this is one of those books that stays with you long after you finish, and I’ll be thinking about William and Layla for a long time.

I love this series so much! I immersive read this one and It did take me a little while to get used to the male narrator’s voice. At times it felt a little over the top, but once I got into it, I was all in. This series keeps getting better with every book. The characters, the action, and all the twists had me wanting to know what was going to happen next. Every time I think I know where the story is going, Granger throws in something I didn’t see coming. If you’re already invested in this series, this is definitely one you don’t want to miss. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

This book was heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. The first chapter opens with one sentence that immediately pulls you in, and from that moment I needed to know what happened.

I went into this book completely blind, and I’m so glad I did. This was my first book by Akwaeke Emezi, and it definitely won’t be my last.

We follow Vivek, his cousin Osita, and their family as they try to understand who Vivek really was before and after his death. I loved how the story slowly came together, with each chapter giving us another piece of Vivek. The reveal involving Vivek and Osita definitely caught me off guard, I didn’t see that ending coming!

This book made me feel so many emotions. My heart broke for Vivek, and I just wanted him to be seen and loved for who he was. By the end, I just sat there thinking about everything I had read.

This book was so good! It had me feeling every emotion possible. Even with the ghostly elements throughout the story, nothing felt over the top or out of place. It all blended so naturally into the lives of these characters and the community they call home, making the story feel incredibly real.

Nora stole my heart. She’s raising her three sons in the Hester Garden Projects after losing her husband to the prison system and her oldest son to gun violence. Watching her fight to protect her family while carrying so much grief was both heartbreaking and inspiring.

What really made this book stand out for me was the characters. They felt like real people, and I became invested in every one of them. I was rooting for them, hurting with them, and hoping things would work out even when it seemed impossible.

This story is about so much more than horror. It’s about family, loss, survival, and the lengths people will go to for the ones they love. For a debut novel, this was incredible. I’ll definitely be reading whatever this author writes next.

This was a really great read! It gave me similar vibes to Judge Stone and had me hooked from page one.

The story begins on election night, November 4, 2008, as President Barack Obama wins the election. Hollis Montrose, a former Chicago police officer who now works for Metra PD, is driving home from work when a traffic stop goes horribly wrong. He is shot ten times by four white police officers.

Beau Lee Cooper is a Texas lawyer who steps in to help Hollis after the shooting. Hollis survives the shooting, and is forced to fight for his freedom when the police officers involved create their own version of what happened.

I was engaged from start to finish. Following the case, seeing how everything played out, and watching Beau fight for justice kept me turning the pages. It was frustrating, made me angry, and eye opening all at the same time.

Highly recommending this one!

We follow 16-year-old Hanu, who is living in a mental institution called The Flush with other children who suffer from dysphoria. Dreaming is forbidden by the Ancient Ones, they are aliens worshipped as gods who claim they saved humanity from destroying Earth. After having a dream that sends him on a mission to recover the Genesis Key, Hanu and several other children escape and uncover some disturbing things happening behind the scenes.

The plot was interesting, and I was invested in finding out what was going on. My biggest issue was the pacing. This was a slowwww burn for me. The chapters were long, and at times it felt a little repetitive, which made the story drag more than I wanted it to. I also never really understood what the Genesis Key actually did or why everyone was so focused on getting it. Since it was such a major part of the story, I found myself wanting a little more explanation and clarity there.

I enjoyed it and thought the story was creative, but the pacing and the confusion around the Genesis Key kept it from being a bigger hit for me.

This book genuinely had my emotions all over the place! Between the betrayal, the magic system, the amazing world building, and all the action, this was a great sequel to The Poppy War. There were a few slower moments, but I still really enjoyed the story overall. The ending has me ready to jump straight into the next book because I need to know what happens next!

And Nezha pissed me off! I was really rooting for his punk ass too. 🤣

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, so my expectations were pretty high, and I really enjoyed it!

This is a slow burn, second chance romance that follows Dani and Micah. After the death of their mentor, Tanya, they’re brought back together to complete a scavenger hunt that she planned before she passed away. Dani is forced to spend time with the man who broke her heart, while Micah has to face the woman he never stopped loving.

I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow throughout the story. The romance was sweet, and I found myself rooting for them to find their way back to each other.

My only complaint is that I wanted more backstory. I wish we had gotten to see more of what happened between Dani and Micah before the breakup because I never fully got that second chance romance feeling. I also would have liked a little more explanation about why Tanya wanted them to complete the scavenger hunt together in the first place.

I still had a good time with this one. It was sweet, it was cute, with characters I enjoyed following, and I’m glad I finally got to read it.

There’s only one sin in Hollywood by Rasheed newsome is a first read by this author and also one of my pride month picks for June.

What I enjoyed most about this book was learning about a part of Hollywood history that isn’t often talked about. I really appreciated the historical parts and how he explored the realities of being Black and gay during that time, especially what they had to hide and sacrifice just to make it in Hollywood.

The story moved a little slower than I wanted, and I didn’t feel as connected to the characters as I had hoped. I also expected more mystery and investigation of Xavier’s death, but it was an okay read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first time reading a book by Kristina Forest, and it won’t be my last.

This was such a cute, and romantic summer love story. We follow Noelle, who works at a bookstore and has a side job as a bridesmaid for hire while trying to save money to go back to school.

Jeremiah, who comes from a wealthy business family, tells his mom he has a girlfriend, the only problem is he doesn’t. He hires Noelle to be his girlfriend for a weekend, but what was only supposed to be a weekend turns into something much more, and I loved watching their relationship grow.

The slow burn was done so well. The chemistry between Noelle and Jeremiah felt natural, the family connections added so many heartwarming moments to the story, and their bond felt very real.

This book was warm, sweet, romantic, and just made me happy while reading it. It’s the kind of book you pick up when you want something comfy and easy to get lost in.

I’ll definitely be reading more from Kristina Forest.

Daniel Black is a genius. Isaac’s Song is the sequel to Don’t Cry for Me, and I’m so glad I read them back to back.

Getting to hear Isaac’s side of the story and see his perspective on his relationship with both his father and mother was such an experience. If you’ve read Don’t Cry for Me, you know how emotional that story is, and this one adds so much more meaning to everything that happened.

Isaac is grieving the loss of his father while trying to figure out how to heal, forgive, and move forward. He starts to realize that he and his father are more alike than he ever wanted to admit, while also confronting the things his father never taught him.

What I loved most was how beautifully these two books connect. I definitely recommend reading Don’t Cry for Me first because it makes Isaac’s journey come full circle, but this book still stands on its own. You can feel the pain, the healing, the growth, and ultimately the acceptance throughout the entire story.

I immersed read this one and listened to the audiobook, and JD Jackson did an amazing job. His narration made an already emotional story even more powerful.

This book made me feel so many emotions, and I’m really glad Daniel Black gave Isaac the chance to tell his side of the story.