Genevieve
Second chance romance is hands down one of my favorite tropes. I love watching two people who are clearly meant for each other find their way back, deeper and more intentional than before, and Sweet Heat delivered exactly that.
This was my first read by Bolu Babalola and I have to say this was an amazing experience. Every good thing I’d heard about this book was 100% true. This book was beautifully written, emotional, funny, and so real. I already know Honey & Spice is next on my list.
The story follows two exes Kiki and Malikai who are brought back into each other’s lives during a wedding weekend, and everything starts to unravel at once. It’s messy, relatable, and heartfelt in the best way.
The banter between Kiki and Kai is so good, playful, tense, and full of chemistry they’re both trying desperately to ignore. The way Bolu Babalola writes love feels so real and honest, you can feel their connection through the pages, and it shows what real, grown love looks like.
I also listened to the audiobook, and it was incredible. Weruche Opia did an incredible job. She brought every character to life, and each voice felt distinct, which made the experience even better.
This is absolutely worth the read or the listen. Honey & Spice is officially next on my list.
Second chance romance is hands down one of my favorite tropes. I love watching two people who are clearly meant for each other find their way back, deeper and more intentional than before, and Sweet Heat delivered exactly that.
This was my first read by Bolu Babalola and I have to say this was an amazing experience. Every good thing I’d heard about this book was 100% true. This book was beautifully written, emotional, funny, and so real. I already know Honey & Spice is next on my list.
The story follows two exes Kiki and Malikai who are brought back into each other’s lives during a wedding weekend, and everything starts to unravel at once. It’s messy, relatable, and heartfelt in the best way.
The banter between Kiki and Kai is so good, playful, tense, and full of chemistry they’re both trying desperately to ignore. The way Bolu Babalola writes love feels so real and honest, you can feel their connection through the pages, and it shows what real, grown love looks like.
I also listened to the audiobook, and it was incredible. Weruche Opia did an incredible job. She brought every character to life, and each voice felt distinct, which made the experience even better.
This is absolutely worth the read or the listen. Honey & Spice is officially next on my list.
I really enjoyed this book. The Black Shield Maiden is a historical fantasy set in the world of the Vikings, following an African warrior, and it was such a refreshing, immersive read.
This book sat on my shelf for over a year, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. I was obsessed with the show Vikings, so when I first saw this in the bookstore, I knew it would have a similar vibe, but with a main character who looks like me. And it absolutely did not disappoint.
The research in this book really shows. The world building was strong, the story was adventurous, and everything felt intentional and well thought out.
We follow Yafeu, a young Ghanaian woman who loves hunting and fighting things she’s constantly told she shouldn’t be interested in. When she’s taken from everything she’s ever known, her life changes completely after crossing paths with a group of Viking women.
We also follow Freydis, a Norwegian princess whose storyline feels very reminiscent of Vikings (which Willow Smith has said was part of her inspiration). I loved seeing their paths unfold side by side.
This is definitely a slow burn, but it worked perfectly for this type of story. The pacing allowed the characters, relationships, and world to develop naturally, and by the end, I was fully immersed.
If you love historical fantasy, strong female characters, and Vikings style stories, this one is worth the read.
I really enjoyed this book. The Black Shield Maiden is a historical fantasy set in the world of the Vikings, following an African warrior, and it was such a refreshing, immersive read.
This book sat on my shelf for over a year, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up. I was obsessed with the show Vikings, so when I first saw this in the bookstore, I knew it would have a similar vibe, but with a main character who looks like me. And it absolutely did not disappoint.
The research in this book really shows. The world building was strong, the story was adventurous, and everything felt intentional and well thought out.
We follow Yafeu, a young Ghanaian woman who loves hunting and fighting things she’s constantly told she shouldn’t be interested in. When she’s taken from everything she’s ever known, her life changes completely after crossing paths with a group of Viking women.
We also follow Freydis, a Norwegian princess whose storyline feels very reminiscent of Vikings (which Willow Smith has said was part of her inspiration). I loved seeing their paths unfold side by side.
This is definitely a slow burn, but it worked perfectly for this type of story. The pacing allowed the characters, relationships, and world to develop naturally, and by the end, I was fully immersed.
If you love historical fantasy, strong female characters, and Vikings style stories, this one is worth the read.
I started the audiobook mainly because I wanted to finish the year with a quick read I could finish in a day. I honestly didn’t know much about Michelle Buteau going in, just that she hosts The Circle on Netflix and has appeared in a few movies I’ve enjoyed.
This memoir had me laughing out loud so many times, but it also hit some emotional moments when she shared parts of her life experiences. I really love books (and movies) that feel real, stories about people just navigating life, fame or not, and this one definitely delivered that.
Overall, this was funny, empowering, and perfect if you want something light but still meaningful. A great pick for a cozy, low stress, laugh out loud read.
I started the audiobook mainly because I wanted to finish the year with a quick read I could finish in a day. I honestly didn’t know much about Michelle Buteau going in, just that she hosts The Circle on Netflix and has appeared in a few movies I’ve enjoyed.
This memoir had me laughing out loud so many times, but it also hit some emotional moments when she shared parts of her life experiences. I really love books (and movies) that feel real, stories about people just navigating life, fame or not, and this one definitely delivered that.
Overall, this was funny, empowering, and perfect if you want something light but still meaningful. A great pick for a cozy, low stress, laugh out loud read.
Ms. Octavia Grant… what in the entire hell did I just read?! I genuinely don’t know what took me so long to pick up one of her books, but trust me when I say I will be reading everything she writes. Octavia Grant is TDJ on steroids, and I mean that as the highest compliment.
As you can probably tell, I absolutely loved this book. I laughed, screamed, gasped, and had my jaw on the floor more times than I can count. My husband kept asking me what was wrong because I was clutching my chest, flailing my hands, and fully reacting to every twist. I was ALL IN.
This is a true revenge story, executed so well. We follow Eden, who’s married to her college sweetheart, Jeremiah. On the surface, they seem to have the perfect life, but once Eden starts uncovering her husband’s secrets, everything changes… including her.
I listened to the audiobook and WOW. I was completely glued from start to finish, and I will absolutely be buying the physical copy ASAP because it was just that good.
Every single character in this book was messy in their own way, unhinged, chaotic, and wildly entertaining. The twists and turns kept coming, and I could not stop listening.
If you’re looking for a book full of revenge, chaos, messy characters, and nonstop “WTF just happened” moments, Cutthroat is 100% the read for you.
Ms. Octavia Grant… what in the entire hell did I just read?! I genuinely don’t know what took me so long to pick up one of her books, but trust me when I say I will be reading everything she writes. Octavia Grant is TDJ on steroids, and I mean that as the highest compliment.
As you can probably tell, I absolutely loved this book. I laughed, screamed, gasped, and had my jaw on the floor more times than I can count. My husband kept asking me what was wrong because I was clutching my chest, flailing my hands, and fully reacting to every twist. I was ALL IN.
This is a true revenge story, executed so well. We follow Eden, who’s married to her college sweetheart, Jeremiah. On the surface, they seem to have the perfect life, but once Eden starts uncovering her husband’s secrets, everything changes… including her.
I listened to the audiobook and WOW. I was completely glued from start to finish, and I will absolutely be buying the physical copy ASAP because it was just that good.
Every single character in this book was messy in their own way, unhinged, chaotic, and wildly entertaining. The twists and turns kept coming, and I could not stop listening.
If you’re looking for a book full of revenge, chaos, messy characters, and nonstop “WTF just happened” moments, Cutthroat is 100% the read for you.
Hold Me While You Wait
This was my first Kimberly Brown read and I enjoyed it. Hold Me While You Wait was an emotional, heartfelt read that really leans into healing, second chances, and finding love when you’re not really looking for it.
Somya and Xander, the two main characters, both carry a lot of baggage, but their connection felt natural and effortless. Their relationship grows through real conversations and shared experiences, it never feels rushed or forced, just two people slowly letting their guards down. The single parent aspect and found family vibes added so much depth to the story and made it feel very grounded and relatable.
This book focuses more on emotions than big dramatic moments, which I really appreciated. The tension comes from real life challenges and past issues, not over-the-top drama.
The only issue I had was with the audiobook, the male narrator’s voice didn’t feel like a good match for the character. But overall a nice cute romance.
This was my first Kimberly Brown read and I enjoyed it. Hold Me While You Wait was an emotional, heartfelt read that really leans into healing, second chances, and finding love when you’re not really looking for it.
Somya and Xander, the two main characters, both carry a lot of baggage, but their connection felt natural and effortless. Their relationship grows through real conversations and shared experiences, it never feels rushed or forced, just two people slowly letting their guards down. The single parent aspect and found family vibes added so much depth to the story and made it feel very grounded and relatable.
This book focuses more on emotions than big dramatic moments, which I really appreciated. The tension comes from real life challenges and past issues, not over-the-top drama.
The only issue I had was with the audiobook, the male narrator’s voice didn’t feel like a good match for the character. But overall a nice cute romance.
I really enjoyed this Christmas, modern day fantasy. I honestly wished it was longer. Desireé did such an amazing job making the story feel relatable to everyday life while still keeping the magic alive. The comedy was a highlight for me, and I loved how naturally it was woven into the story.
When Desireé asked if this should become a recurring seasonal series, my answer was an immediate yes. I would love to read more about Keenan and Eve’s love story, and honestly, even Eve’s mom and Saint Charles deserve their own book.
This story delivered comedy, family drama, and a love story that felt fresh and unlike anything I’ve read before. Such a fun and festive read.
I really enjoyed this Christmas, modern day fantasy. I honestly wished it was longer. Desireé did such an amazing job making the story feel relatable to everyday life while still keeping the magic alive. The comedy was a highlight for me, and I loved how naturally it was woven into the story.
When Desireé asked if this should become a recurring seasonal series, my answer was an immediate yes. I would love to read more about Keenan and Eve’s love story, and honestly, even Eve’s mom and Saint Charles deserve their own book.
This story delivered comedy, family drama, and a love story that felt fresh and unlike anything I’ve read before. Such a fun and festive read.
What an incredible debut by Kristen L. Berry. I was completely glued to this story from start to finish.
The story follows Sydney, who is cleaning out her late grandmother’s belongings when she discovers a photograph of a little girl who looks more like her than her own sister. She soon learns the girl is her Aunt Carol, one of six Black girls who went missing in 1960s North Carolina. Carol’s name hasn’t been spoken in decades, and no one in the family is willing to talk about what happened. Determined to uncover the truth, Sydney begins digging into the mystery behind the disappearances, especially her aunt’s.
This book delivers layered family drama, twists, mystery, and suspense, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The ending genuinely surprised me.
What stood out most is how this story, though fictional, shines a necessary light on the very real and often overlooked issue of missing Black girls and women. Kristen L. Berry handles this topic with care and intention, making this a powerful and impactful read.
Highly recommend if you love mysteries with heart and depth.
What an incredible debut by Kristen L. Berry. I was completely glued to this story from start to finish.
The story follows Sydney, who is cleaning out her late grandmother’s belongings when she discovers a photograph of a little girl who looks more like her than her own sister. She soon learns the girl is her Aunt Carol, one of six Black girls who went missing in 1960s North Carolina. Carol’s name hasn’t been spoken in decades, and no one in the family is willing to talk about what happened. Determined to uncover the truth, Sydney begins digging into the mystery behind the disappearances, especially her aunt’s.
This book delivers layered family drama, twists, mystery, and suspense, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The ending genuinely surprised me.
What stood out most is how this story, though fictional, shines a necessary light on the very real and often overlooked issue of missing Black girls and women. Kristen L. Berry handles this topic with care and intention, making this a powerful and impactful read.
Highly recommend if you love mysteries with heart and depth.