Book Review Archives - Page 3 of 34

Book Review:: Fallen City | Adrienne Young

A city is falling – it’s inevitable – but the man who started it is also the one who cannot leave. Not without her.

Fallen City by Adrienne Young Book Cover

Maris and Luca, oh my my. This book has political tension, mystical mysteries, warfront tactics, rivalries, brotherhood, courting, and a love so deep and true it’ll have you aching for more and afraid to find out what happens next.

The pacing and reveals in this book are its crowning achievement. Young pulls you through the novel with sparse inner-chapter hints and last-line gut-punches that keep that sense of discovery feeling constant through just about the whole book. It’s propulsive. It’s a valuable lesson for writers (like me).

I honestly feel like the plot is secondary here, though there is plenty of it to sink your teeth into. But it’s the characters that make it unforgettable.

Will I read the next installment? You don’t even have to ask.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Fallen City (Fallen City Duology #1)
Author:: Adrienne Young
Genre:: Romantasy
Publisher:: Saturday Books
Length:: 416 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 19m
Audiobook Narrator:: Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick & Leela Bassuk
Published:: November 4th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Divine Rivals, Rebecca Ross
Heartless Hunter, Kristen Ciccarelli
Our Infinite Fates, Laura Steven
The City in Glass, Nghi Vo
What the River Knows, Isabel Ibanez

Book Review:: Caller Unknown | Gillian McAllister

Love makes fools of us all, and we all know nothing is stronger than a mother’s love. Simone and Lucy just wanted to have a nice mother-daughter holiday camping in the west Texas desert.

Note to self: never book a holiday in west Texas.

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister Book Cover

Lucy is snatched from her bed in the middle of the night, with nothing but an outdated flip phone in her place. When it rings, it’s an unknown caller, and they’ve ransomed her daughter. Simone and Lucy are in a time of transition. Lucy is preparing to go off to college, and Simone is feeling the absence of her more than ever, making the ache of intense love only a mother can understand more tender than ever. Perhaps it is this specific texture of feeling that leads to what happens next.

What would you do, when pressed into a corner, to recover one you love?

Gillian McAllister is so good at what she does. Her thrillers have an atmosphere and a desperation and a logic that propels you through the pages relentlessly. It’s a story about familial love, it’s a story of desperation, it’s a story about having to move without knowing if it’s safe, where it’s safe, or who is safe.

Don’t miss it.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title::Caller Unknown
Author::Gillian McAllister
Genre:: Thriller
Publisher:: Willam Morrow
Length:: 336 pages
Published::May 5th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Book Review:: The Relic of the Wildwood | E.J. Venter

A perilous quest. A fierce protector. And a young woman who doesn’t believe she’s enough. These are the ones tasked with saving the world from an evil force none understand. Will they survive long enough to succeed?

The Relic of the Wildwood by EJ Venter Book Cover

The first thing I want to say about this book is how completely engrossed I was from the very beginning. Though there are common fantasy elements in this story, it had a unique feel I can’t quite describe. That’s not to say it’s cookie cutter at all, but I felt like I was reading about something real.

Alarie has no self-confidence because it has all been sapped out of her by her mother, whom I suspect is up to something greater. She is sent to accomplish an impossible task, and one of the greatest warriors in the realm is sworn to protect her, reluctantly, but dutifully. This first book does so much to set the stage for what could truly be an epic tale.

This is a story that has lingered in my mind long after I read, and I’m happy to see book two is already available to read. That’s where you can find me next!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title::The Relic of the Wildwood (Relics of the Gods Book 1)
Author::E. J. Venter
Genre::Fantasy
Publisher::Indie
Length:: 306 pages
Published::December 15th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Thief of Night | Holly Black
The Summer War | Naomi Novik
Awake in the Floating City | Susanna Kwan
Anji Kills A King | Evan Leikam

Book Review:: Maybe It’s Fate | Heidi McLaughlin

Oh, how I adored every single minute of this book, with tears in my eyes the entire time. My heart was in my hands through the whole unfolding of this story, and it hurt so dang good.

Maybe It's Fate by Heidi McLaughlin Book Cover

Toni and Miri have been friends forever. Not just friends — sisters. Miri hasn’t had the easiest ride through life, and when she calls Toni with her latest crisis, she drops everything and goes to her, like any sister would.

Miri has two kids, great, wonderful, beautiful kids, and she has cancer. The bad kind (as if any could be good). As the entire family, including Toni and her mother, who also love Miri, and the community of the little town she lives in, adjusts to this new reality, emotions are flying all over the place. Well, they were for me.

I had to pause and set down this book, kind of frequently, because my heart just hurt too much. When I say I was on the edge of tears the whole time, I mean it. As a mother myself, this was hard to fathom…but I promise you, it’s worth all the heartache.

This is an uplifting, positive book. It’s about hope and the beauty of love as much as it is about loss and acceptance. It’s about finding your path, even when it looks entirely different than what you always imagined it to be. It’s about community and support and the most beautiful parts of humanity.

It’s really quite stunning.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Maybe It’s Fate
Author:: Heidi McLaughlin
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Montlake
Length:: 306 pages
Published:: April 1st, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Colton Gentry’s Third Act | Jeff Zentner
Promise Me Sunshine | Cara Bastone
32 Days in May | Betty Corrello
Swept Away | Beth O’Leary

Book Review:: If Only You Knew | Ellie K. Wilde

Man, sometimes you gotta go back to a genuine sports romance novel, and If Only You Knew by Ellie K. Wilde really fits the bill (also it’s part of a standalone series so if you like it, there’s more).

If Only You Knew by Ellie K Wilde Book Cover

Parker and Summer are the ultimate friends to lovers indulgence. They’ve been friends forever, but for their own reasons, have never really considered that they may just be exactly who they’re looking for.

Physical therapist and competitive surfer Summer is sick of dating, starting to think there was nothing but duds out there. Parker has a reputation and has never been one for a serious relationship.

Their story finding their way to one another is full of twists and turns and a little bit of heartbreak, and starts when the agree to help matchmake one another. Who knows them better than their best friend, after all?

Like the rest of the books in this series (and indeed the sports romance genre in general), this book is very spicy. Like, four cayenne peppers spicy. Very explicit! There, you’ve been warned.

Wilde is really good at matching up her heroes and heroines, and their backstories always play into unlocking them to love. It’s such a satisfying feeling for the reader.

So, do I recommend? Absolutely! Grab yourself a copy to bring some sunshine into your winter blues.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: If Only You Knew (Oakwood Bay #3)
Author:: Ellie K. Wilde
Genre:: Sports Romance
Publisher:: Atria Books
Length:: 400 pages
Published:: February 17th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Checking it Twice | Kendall Ryan
Revolve | Bal Khabra
Pitcher Perfect | Tessa Bailey

Book Review:: Graceless Heart | Isabel Ibanez

Isabel Ibanez is on my watch list. I’ve truly loved some of her work in the past, so I wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to read her newest book, Graceless Heart.

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibanez Book Cover

Moving from Egypt in her previous historical fantasy series, this one takes place in Italy, a setting replete with historical potential.

It took a hot minute for the story to grab me, and I still felt like I was sort of bashing my way through a jungle of vines in order to get to the good stuff.

But the good stuff was good. Saturnino was one of those characters where you weren’t entirely sure the entire time if he was someone you could trust. Ibanez is so good at this morally ambiguous love interests! And the finale at the end of the book was truly fascinating and memorable.

If you are new to Ibanez I would honestly recommend her previous duology, beginning with What the River Knows, over this. I found it more immersive and chalk full of adventure and mystery I was more interested in. This one just felt a little too heavy with extraneous world building/political details that, while they may pay off eventually, also had an adverse effect on the story this novel could have been. As a writer myself, I understand the impulse to show off the impeccable world you’ve crafted that the story fits inside of…there just wasn’t enough, as a reader, to grab onto and really care about all those tracks.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Graceless Heart (The Spellbound History Quartet #1)
Author:: Isabel Ibanez
Genre:: Historical Fantasy
Publisher:: Saturday Books
Length:: 488 pages
Published:: January 13th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Book Review:: The Nantucket Inn | Pamela Kelley

Last year I read a book called The Christmas Inn by Pamela Kelley and I LOVED it. It was such a nice, engaging, wholesome novel about family and friendship and community. Naturally, I was quite excited to dive into another story by this same author.

The Nantucket Inn by Pamela Kelley Book Cover

The Nantucket Inn centers around another family unit, a mother, three daughters, and a fleeting son, who helps his mother turn their generous Nantucket home into an inn after the death of the family patriarch.

Everyone is going through something a little bit different. There are relationships ending, relationships beginning, relationships on pause…but at the center of everything is the core connection of the family.

I find books like these so cozy and pleasant. There’s plenty of drama, but because of the solid support systems underneath, nothing ever feels desperate, you know? You can read the whole thing without your heart in your throat. A good one to dip in and out of, even.

While I did enjoy The Nantucket Inn, it wasn’t quite as touching to me as The Christmas Inn. If your heart is feeling a little tender, I think Pamela Kelley is a good bet to sink into for a safe escape.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title::The Nantucket Inn (Nantucket Beach Plum Cove)
Author::Pamela Kelley
Genre::Women’s Fiction
Publisher::Piping Plover Press
Length:: 324 pages
Published::February 3rd, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 3.5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

The Christmas Inn | Pamela Kelley
Overdue | Stephanie Perkins
The Heartbreak Hotel | Ellen O’Clover

Book Review:: Silver & Blood | Jessie Mihalik

Romantasy fans, this one’s for you. Part fairy tale, part romance, this book is bound to satisfy many romantasy lovers.

Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik Book Cover

Riela is taken to an enchanted house in the woods, where she is essentially trapped with a partly terrifying, partly misunderstood brooding powerful man, his wolf companion, and enough magic to protect them from the evils outside. But strange as that is, it becomes ever stranger when she accidentally does the one thing she was told never to do, and opens an entirely new can of worms.

In some ways, this book was refreshing in the face of other romantasy novels, but in others, it’s still the same note. Romantasy heroines are essentially all inter-changable, and I found that to be the case here as well. They’re always doing things they ought naught, having an attitude about it, being stuck in magical situations that barely make any sense at all…

But…

Somehow it is still interesting enough to keep you turning pages. Did I want to know what happened next? Mmhmm. Did I fall in love with Garrick alongside her? Um, duh. Are the politics nothing but window dressing? Of course. But that’s what romantasy readers want, and here, they get it. A fulfilled promise. An entertaining handful of hours. A new series to track.

And will I read the sequel? …probably 🙂

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Silver & Blood (Silber & Blood #1)
Author:: Jessie Mihalik
Genre:: Romantasy
Publisher:: Avon
Length:: 448 pages
Published::January 27th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Quicksilver | Callie Hart
Rose in Chains | Julie Soto
Heartless Hunter | Kristen Ciccarelli
Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross

Book Review:: The Re-Do List | Denise Williams

Willow is broken and broken-hearted as her brother ships off on deployment, but he leaves his best friend Deacon behind with instructions to look out for her while he’s gone — and boy does he!

The Re-Do List by Denise Williams Book Cover

Willow and Deacon’s story had just the right amount of tension. They were clearly falling for one another, but there were very real circumstances that made it a very satisfying slow burn. Together, they heal in all the right ways and have us cheering for them the whole way.

While this was quite a good romance story, there were a few elements that rubbed me a little funny. The voice led me to believe the character would be younger than she was, and the opening sequence didn’t hold a lot of narrative weight, ultimately, in my eyes.

I will say it is hard to make the ‘lessons in dating’ trope feel organic, but this one mostly succeeds. By the finale I was fully invested. If you’re looking for a new romance to sweep you off your feet this summer, this one ain’t half bad!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: The Re-Do List
Author:: Denise Williams
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 432 pages
Published::January 27th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

PS I Hate You | Lauren Connolly
Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake | Mazey Eddings
A 5-Letter Word for Love | Amy James

Book Review:: The Highlander’s Lady of Loch & Sea | Heather McCollum

Looking for your historical Scottish hunk fix? Fan of true-blue bodice rippers? You’re going to love The Highlander’s Lady of Loch & Sea by Heather McCollum.

The Highlander's Lady of the Loch and Sea by Heather McCollum Book Cover

Laria is a fierce heroine who knows her own mind. In her first scene she’s seducing a powerful man she’s promised to kill. She would do anything for her family and her people. These are strange times, which call for strange measures.

Cyrus, her intended victim, is in a pinch of his own. With an imminent and complicated inheritance on the horizon, the last thing he needs is a complication as beautiful as Laria, but…she’s bewitched him.

For me, I wasn’t as interested in the perhaps overly-complicated political side of things peppering the novel with drama. It felt like a lot of telling, and though the characters cared about these conditions, I didn’t, really. It gave the book some scaffolding to stand upon, but it didn’t add a lot to the reading experience.

There is something about them Scots though – this book is a great escape for when you need something straightforward and sexy.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: The Highlander’s Lady of the Loch & Sea (Brotherhood of Solway Moss #3)
Author:: Heather McCollum
Genre:: Historical Romance
Publisher:: Entangled: Amara
Length:: 346 pages
Published:: January 26th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars