Genevieve

I loved this one! This was such a fun, feel good romance that had me smiling the whole way through! A cute love story that had the perfect mix of sweet, funny, and heartwarming moments. It was just one of those books you don’t want to put down. The chemistry between the characters felt so natural, and I found myself smiling through so many scenes. I absolutely fell in love with this story and can’t wait to read the whole series!

I really loved this one! Exiles is such a brilliant blend of psychological, sci-fi, and horror. My husband read the ARC and loved it so much that when release day came, he immediately bought a copy and told me I had to read it. I’m so glad I did! I read the physical book while also listening to the audiobook, and it was such a great experience. Creepy, mind bending, and so well done. Highly recommend! Can’t wait to read more of his work.

This book had my attention from page one. I don’t know what I would have done if my best friend slept with my husband, and then, three months later,she goes missing. Would I even search for her? Idk! Shanora Williams gave made me feel everything, the plot twists, the anger, the happiness, the sadness. It was a beautifully written thriller that I couldn’t put down.

6⭐️

Kennedy Ryan has done it again, another masterpiece! Reel is beautifully written and has easily become my favorite book by her so far. It’s more than just a romance. It’s about forgiveness, health struggles, and love in all its forms. Every single character mattered to this story, and each one was amazing in their own way. I listened to the audiobook, and the singing just pulled me in even more. This story truly captures the meaning of real, lasting love. I absolutely loved, loved, LOVED this book!

3.75⭐️ Couple read this with my husband! I enjoyed Before I Let Go a little more than This Could Be Us, the overall plot was still really strong. I just wish we got a little more of Edward’s story, and honestly, Judah felt almost too perfect at times, borderline unreal. I would’ve loved to know him on a deeper level, especially more about his relationship with Termaine and his boys. Instead, it was a lot of “Soledad this, Soledad that,” which came off stalkerish . That said, I really appreciated how Kennedy Ryan incorporated Judah’s autistic boys and Soledad’s daughters,it added such a heartfelt and important layer to the story. The back and forth did get repetitive, but overall, it was still a good read that I’m glad I read.

I really enjoyed this! This was my second book by Abby Jimenez, and she truly knows how to write a love story that feels both cute and real. It’s a slow burn, but I still flew through the chapters. Both MCs got on my nerves at times but in a good way. Watching them try to figure out if the other loved them as much as they did felt so real, because sometimes you just can’t see what’s right in front of you. The romance was heart warming, the characters felt real, and it left me smiling after I finished.

I really enjoyed this! It’s a historical thriller that follows two sisters, Marigold and Violet, in the Jim Crow South, both running north, but for very different reasons. The story was fast paced and had me completely invested in both of their journeys. I went in blind, only knowing it was a thriller, and I’m so glad I did because the twists pulled me right in. The book is told through three POVs, which I thought worked really well. Overall, I loved every minute of this read! 🎧📚

I absolutely love Tiffany D. Jackson, and own her entire catalog and once again, she doesn’t miss! Blood in the Water is a middle grade/YA story that pulled me in from the very first page. The pacing is perfect and kept me invested all the way through. Her writing is so amazing, and this book was no exception. Tiffany D. Jackson continues to prove why she’s one of my auto buy authors. If you’re a fan of her other books, this one won’t disappoint!

This book was not what I expected at all! A mystery thriller that just kept getting crazier and wilder with each chapter. I really enjoyed it, the twists had me completely addicted. The whole time I was playing detective, trying to figure out who was who and what was what. Such a fun, intense read!

This book had my full attention! Family drama, secrets, and twists that kept me flipping through the pages. I couldn’t put it down. the characters development was amazing I love knowing more about each character. This is a must read!

When I first started this book, I was excited. But about 5 chapters in, I thought, “Oh no… this is just going to be about some entitled people who think they deserve the world.” I was wrong. While the story is a little slow paced at times, it’s also full of a lot of twists and turns that had my head spinning, in a good way. Ultimately, it turned out to be an entertaining read.

This was a great way to start the month of September. The September House really kept me guessing, had me thinking I knew what was going on only to discover a new twist. I really enjoyed the haunted house feel. The way the story built tension kept me interested from beginning to end. This is my second haunted house theme read, with We Used To Live Here by Marcus Kliewer being the first and out of the two We Used to Live Here felt a little more creepier to me. I highly recommend The September House and if you’re into spooky reads, both are worth picking up.

I absolutely loved Midnight and went into Midnight and the Meaning of Love with high expectations. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me the same way. The story felt overly wordy and dragged on, and I found myself just wanting it to be over. I still really respect Sister Souljah’s writing and storytelling, but this particular book just wasn’t for me. I even buddy read it with a friend, hoping that would make it more engaging, but honestly, I was bored most of the time.

I’d been wanting to read The Unbroken for so long, but sadly it didn’t live up to my expectations. It’s not a bad book, but I just wasn’t in awe of the story. I struggled to stay engaged because the plot dragged in places, and I never fully connected with the characters. The beginning had me hooked, but the middle slowed down so much that I found myself just wanting it to end. I did enjoy the action scenes, those moments really stood out. I didn’t hate it, didn’t love it, just somewhere in between.

This book was so good, y’all! From start to finish I was on a rollercoaster of theories, every time I thought I had it figured out, boom… another twist! I even tried to slow down my reading pace because I didn’t want it to end. Shanora Williams absolutely delivered with this one, and now I want to read her entire collection. Her writing skills are incredible!

I really liked this one! The whole book-within a book thing was so fun, and the mix of lit fic with a touch of sci-fi just worked. I loved seeing both Chicago references and the Nigerian culture come through, it made the story pop. It did drag a little in the middle, but it picked up again, and that twist? Crazy.

Sad to say, I didn’t enjoy this book. I went in excited, but it ended up being a letdown. I DNF’d at chapter 30, and here’s why: I was over the constant talk of the affair with W.E.B. Du Bois, the FMC wasn’t memorable (I honestly can’t recall one thing about her), and I just found myself bored. I even tried the audiobook, but the unnecessary singing every now and then only made it more irritating. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, but sadly, this one completely missed the mark for me.

What I’m realizing is that Tiffany D. Jackson is an incredible storyteller. This book is so well written that it honestly pissed me off, in the best way. It’s raw, real, and incredibly deep. So far, I’ve only read Monday’s Not Coming, and I can already tell that her books are guaranteed to make you feel all kinds of emotions, and I am here for it. I I highly recommend this one, but trigger warning: it deals with grooming, sexual abuse, child abuse, and so much more, so please read with caution.

I’ve had this one sitting in my Kindle library for months, and now I wish I’d picked it up sooner, it was so good! I loved the different POVs, and the back-and-forth between the characters felt so real. I read along with the audiobook and highly recommend it, the narrator really brought the characters to life. This book had everything: mystery, drama, murder, and even laugh-out-loud moments. The ending left me wanting more, and now I need the whole series on my shelf.

This is by far the best memoir I’ve read this year hands down. Mrs. Viola Davis has survived things most couldn’t even imagine, and I’ve always loved her but after reading this memoir, I have a whole new level of respect for her. Not just for her work, but for her as a person. I buddy read this with my husband and we read our physical copy while also listening to the audio. Mrs. Viola Davis narrates her story and I’m so glad she did. It felt personal, like she was sitting across from me, telling me her story. When I heard/read the first line I absolutely knew this was going to be a story I was going to be fully immersed in. This memoir is beautifully written, raw, and heartbreaking, I felt every emotion. I absolutely 100% recommend this memoir.

I really enjoyed this one! The pacing was great and it kept me guessing the whole time. Just when I thought I had something figured out, boom, something new would happen. Some parts were a little predictable, but Ashley Flowers always managed to surprise me with another twist. The last few chapters completely shocked me. Overall, a really solid read!

I LOVED this book. From page one, I was so into Junie’s story, it’s so real and heartfelt. The writing makes you feel like you’re right there with her, living every moment. The cover of this book was so beautiful and the main reason I originally wanted to read this book, and I’m so glad I did! An outstanding historical fiction that I highly recommend.

4.5⭐️ This was a beautifully written and heartbreaking story. What got my full attention was the prologue. The story follows Eve whose husband Quinton committed suicide and she finds him. I felt every emotion the author wanted me to feel, the grief the main character Eve went through was so sad. I read while listening to the audio and the narrator did an amazing job of capturing all the emotions. I loved how the story balanced the support Eve receives from her family with the complicated, and terrible relationship she has with her mother-in-law. My heart hurt watching Eve search for answers while learning how to keep living when the love of her life is gone.

This was my August book club pick, and I really wanted to like it, but it just fell short for me. By chapter 3, I had a feeling it wouldn’t work, but I pushed through to give it a fair chance. I even got the audiobook to follow along, hoping I’d connect more, but nope. Unfortunately, I finished the book feeling the same as when I started, no deeper connection to the story or characters. For me, there was little character development, not much of a plot, and I found myself not caring about anyone in the book. Sadly, this one’s a no for me, and I wouldn’t recommend it.

A beautifully written horror, really, a historical horror in my opinion, that had me hooked from start to finish. Markus Redmond’s writing pulled me in, and I couldn’t get enough. The characters felt so real. Willie, an enslaved man, meets Rafazi, a vampire from Ghana, who offers him the power to fight back. Then there’s Gertie, the woman he loves, who fears what he’ll become and honestly got on my nerves at times. I could picture everything like I was watching a movie (which I seriously hope happens one day). I buddy read this with my husband, and we both were just flying through the pages and just looking at each other like “Yup, this is amazing!” It was so, so good! This by far is in my top 5 books of the year.