Yuli
Nerve Damage by Annakeara Stinson follows Clarice after she thinks she spots her ex-boyfriend (former stalker) on one of her outings. This encounter marks the beginning of her descent into paranoia, as the effects of trauma intertwine with a dive into her past and formative years, painting a complex understanding of her psyche. Paranoia emerges as the thematic core, underscoring how her perception is warped by fear, leaving the reader to question reality alongside her.
Overall, the story had me gripped by the role reversal of the stalker becoming the stalked victim, as we witness the extremes Clarice goes to to get answers about P.T. after their suspected encounter. This exploration into paranoia deepens the discomfort, striking a chord that resonates with anyone who might have faced similar unsettling experiences. It was compelling to try to rationalize her actions initially, only to find myself screaming, ‘holy shit, girl, what are you doing?!'
I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read about a character doing the most out-of-pocket actions in pursuit of understanding.
Although I believed I had outgrown the young adult genre, Sasha Peyton Smith's The Thorn Queen demonstrated that compelling and noteworthy stories still exist within this category.
This book wraps up the Rose Bargain Duet in a satisfying way. Ivy is now married to Bram and has become Queen of England, but his rule is harsh and violent. The story follows Ivy as she tries to overthrow Bram, rescue her sister, and find her way back to her true love, Emmet.
Emmet and Ivy's relationship was my favorite part of the book. The longing and tension between them came through in every scene, which made the romance really engaging for me. I also liked that the story went beyond romance. The sibling relationships felt real and showed how family bonds can be complicated but still very strong.
I also enjoyed the parts set in the Otherworld. As someone who likes The Cruel Prince series, I loved exploring another fae realm where trust is rare and the fae are both cruel and clever. Even so, there is still beauty and magic, especially in their natural world.
Smith's writing made it easy to picture every scene and kept me interested the whole time. The story slowed down a bit in some parts, but overall it was very enjoyable and ended in a way that felt right. If you liked The Rose Bargain, you'll be pleased with how this duet wraps up.
Love Sex & The Narcissist is an intense and emotionally charged work of romantic psychological fiction. The story follows Sophie as she reinvents herself and explores new ways to present herself to the world. Her first encounter with the charismatic and charming Adrian, a successful and well-loved figure in the community, sets off a whirlwind romance. However, as the relationship develops, Sophie begins to question her own sanity and whether she truly knows Adrian, especially as masks start to fall.
The author's skill shines through in capturing the emotional stages of the relationship, making the reader feel swept away and then disoriented, often gaslit alongside the narrator. The writing is so compelling that it can evoke feelings of unease, prompting periods of needing to step away—a testament to the effective storytelling.
While labeled as romantic fiction, this book defies typical genre conventions and offers a raw, unflinching look at narcissistic relationships. It's a story for anyone who has lost their identity in such a dynamic, illustrating not only the psychological nuances but also emphasizing that there is always a choice, a way out, and the opportunity for rebuilding oneself repeatedly if necessary. A deeply emotional, thought-provoking read that leaves a lasting impact.
4.5⭐️
Cherry Baby is a brutally honest, beautifully chaotic look at life after plans fall apart. It follows 36-year-old Cherry as she tries to rebuild her life after splitting from her husband, Tom. The twist? Tom created a highly successful comic—and soon-to-be movie—based on their relationship, forcing Cherry to face her heartbreak publicly.
What I appreciated most was the detailed character development. Every character—from Cherry and her best friend's ex, Russ, to her husband Tom— is a fully realized, complex character. Their story unfolds naturally, avoiding forced or artificial moments. Rowell vividly captures their raw, genuine, sometimes ugly emotions with great accuracy. The messiness feels true to life; people don't fix problems neatly or straightforwardly, and the book celebrates that realism.
A key, sometimes tough, theme is Cherry's relationship with her body. The story openly discusses her persistent negative thoughts about being fat. Rowell addresses current cultural conversations around body positivity, including the use of semaglutide drugs and the complicated feelings when former self-love advocates make that choice. It's a thoughtful, timely addition that deepens Cherry's journey of self-rediscovery.
Although I usually dislike flashbacks, in this book, they are vital and expertly handled. They offer essential background on Cherry and Tom's relationship—how they built their love and why its end was so painful. These scenes convinced me that Tom's connection was real, shifting my initial instinct to root for Russ. They showed a genuine chemistry and a strong foundation that just clicked.
Cherry Baby is more than a second-chance romance; it's about giving yourself a second shot. Perfect for anyone who has had to redefine their identity or believes that happy endings are complex, earned, and more rewarding because of it. This book has become one of my favorites this year.
2.5⭐️
Sibylline by Melissa de la Cruz follows three students who are rejected from an elite school and discover they can learn magic by working on campus, where their skills are put to the test. Classic dark academia vibes—a mysterious school hiding dark secrets—plus a complicated love triangle. The magic and mystery are there, but sometimes the character dynamics felt a bit off.
The characters stay true to YA—dealing with relationships and finding their identities. The romance, though, felt a little forced, so I wasn't totally convinced. Still, I did not mind each character's unique perspective.
The best part? The school itself—hidden rooms, magical stuff, and that moody, dark atmosphere. Looks like a sequel's coming, and I'm very interested to see more of Sibylline's campus.
Overall, if you're into dark academia and magic, this book's worth a read.
This is the story of a coward, a hero, a yew tree; but also, no one at all.
Caught in a time loop, the tale of Sir Una Everlasting, a legendary lady-knight, and Owen Mallory, a scholar, is one of love, sacrifice, and the struggle to rewrite history itself. The Everlasting audiobook by Alix E. Harrow, narrated by Moira Quirk and Sid Sagar, is 13 hours and 41 minutes long. It is a tragic, gut-wrenching, ambitious fantasy romance, an ouroboros-like story with no real beginning or end. Both protagonists are trapped within a story that refuses to let go, facing decisions and sacrifices in their pursuit to change their narrative and history.
I loved that the first thing that stood out to me between our two main protagonists was how they both defy the standard traditional gender roles for male-female relationships and how complete opposites they are to each other, yet make the most endearing of couples that bring a refreshing new take on traditional fantasy/romantasy stories. Alix's lyrical prose shone in the audiobook, especially with the narrative-heavy format, which helped create a smooth, enjoyable listening experience.
As far as the actual performance of the narrators, I will say that they both brought the characters to life and accurately matched the tone and style I imagined for the characters. There was a particular moment when Moira Quirk delivered Sir Una's lines with a resonant and commanding voice, infused with grace and determination, perfectly capturing her essence. Sid Sagar's portrayal of Owen was equally captivating, especially during his emotional monologues, where his voice caught slightly, conveying vulnerability and depth. Their performances didn't distract or take away from the story. Instead, the voices were consistent and helped add that extra layer of personality to our protagonists, while both narrators were able to fully embody all the side characters and deliver on the much-needed moments of comedic relief.
Overall, I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me with a copy of the audiobook because I truly believe that the audiobook enhanced the overall story for me, and I was able to catch the small nuances, parallels, building dread, identity formation, and full-circle moments that made the story overall both enjoyable and memorable.
I would recommend this story to anyone who has read and loved The Six Deaths of the Saint or enjoys stories about love and sacrifice, reversed gender roles, and twisted ambition.
Bloodplay is a psychological dark captor/captive story about Euphoria, betrayed by her father and forced to pay for his mistakes. She is sold to Loki, a cruel and ruthless dhampir. What follows is a battle of wills and survival as Euphoria navigates her new reality.
The psychological focus of this story is what drew me in the most, as both Loki and Euphoria strive to maintain control, shaped by their pasts. Euphoria, in particular, begins uncertain of her own strength but gradually challenges her limits. Through her battle of wills, she confronts her vulnerability and questions if redemption is possible, signaling a journey of self-discovery and transformation of sorts.
This story ends in a cliffhanger that sets the tone for where the story will go next—one that I look forward to reading once it comes out.
I would recommend this to readers of The Darkness Beyond the Daisies, Comfort Food, or those interested in the captor/captive trope.
“If you were to ask me to name my favorite scary movie, I'm not sure I'd be able to answer. I love so many of them. But if we got serious and broke it up by sub-genre, hands-down, the answer would be slashers, and my all-time favorite of those has to be Scream.”
Small Town Slasher answers the question of how someone with debilitating anxiety and prone to panic attacks would handle a scary movie/slasher situation.
As someone who doesn't normally pick up horror/slasher books, I really enjoyed Small Town Slasher by Stephanie Rose. The story follows Jenna, an introverted '90s slasher and scary movie enthusiast, who decides to step out of her comfort zone and book a horror movie rental cabin in a small town. A decision she soon comes to regret upon discovering that her rental might've left a few important details out of their listing.
The story had great pacing overall—especially for a story that spans 24 hours. I loved getting to know Jenna's character, and personally appreciated the disability rep we get with her character. The story also included a few quotes and references to popular and well-known scary movies that fans of the genre might enjoy.
I think this book would be enjoyed best by knowing as little as possible and maybe even skipping the book's blurb and going in blind. Would recommend this to anyone who enjoys slasher stories or the Scream movie franchise.
Thanks to NetGalley and Death By TBR Books for the early copy.
2.5⭐️
The Wolf by J. Kenner follows Ruby Ryder, CEO of a major makeup brand, who suddenly finds herself in the midst of a dangerous blackmail situation. Her ex, Leo Grimm, comes back into the picture after having left her in a painful and traumatic way; now he's reappeared with the intent to keep her safe, whether she wants him to or not.
I did not read the first book in this series, but The Wolf works well as a standalone. But, if you want more background on the side characters, starting with book one might be beneficial. The story itself had many elements I typically enjoy in a dark romance; however, the repetitive phrases, plot holes, and the emotional whiplash I got from the characters in this one took me out of the story a few times.
The Wolf by J. Kenner packs a LOT of spice, an obsessive/possessive billionaire ex, the promise of a second chance, and forced proximity—with a bit of plot sprinkled in. If that's your thing, this would be a great read for you.
This one takes catfishing to another level.
Bad Date: A Short Story by Ellery Lloyd follows famous celebrity Fey Roper, who has not had the best of luck when it comes to men. She decides to give online dating a try, with the help of her best friend and wingwoman, using a fake alias. Fey hopes to find someone who is neither a superfan nor a stalker, and preferably someone who will not suddenly disappear on her.
Although only 58 pages long, Bad Date has great pacing and enough layers of mystery and suspense to keep any reader hooked until the last page. Not only that, but it also allows readers to understand each character's motivation and get a sense of their overall personality, making this a well-executed short story.
Bad Date is an ideal 58-page palate cleanser for anyone seeking a quick mystery/thriller.
3.5 ⭐️
Clara is a stylist going through a bit of a rough patch in her love life. She signs up for a fully customizable android dating service and ends up getting a bit more than she bargained for.
This was my first graphic novel by Maria Llovet, and I really enjoyed all the art. The pacing felt a little jumpy at times, and everything progressed pretty quickly, but you still get the general idea of the story.
Artificial is an erotic thriller that explores the darker side of our ever-growing assimilation of AI into everyday life. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Meg Smitherman (Thrum and Entity).