2023 Release Archives - Page 3 of 3

This book may have ruined me for all other romances. I stayed up until 3 am because it is unputdownable. I am still stunned as I sit to write this more than a week later, but I will try to piece together something coherent to explain the ways in which this book moved me.

In The Likely Event Rebecca Yarros Book Cover

This is where I normally provide a quick summary of the plot. In this case, I cannot do that. Don’t read the back. Don’t read the blurb. Don’t read any other reviews. Just pick it up, and read. Trust me.

The first four chapters gave me full body chills. Chills. I had to put it down after that because it was already getting late and I knew if I started one more, I’d never put it back down. I stewed over what I’d read the whole next day until I felt brave enough to pick it back up, knowing it would knock me out, in one way or another. I was right. I didn’t put it back down until I’d read every last word.

This is a love story, and the stakes are sky high. It’s about the universe conspiring to bring two people together, as many times as it takes. It’s about enduring love, tragic love, protective love, and being there in the ways that count, even if it can’t always be physically.

It’s about bearing vulnerabilities and sacrificing what might have been for what one day could be. It’s about life, about loss, about holding onto the family you find in others, and letting go of the ones that hurt you. It’s about taking risks for those you love, and not holding grudges for all the little hurts, or the big ones either. It’s about patience, and fighting for what you know is real, even if you’re the only one who still believes it.

There is so much packed in these pages, and the longing and yearning and waiting is enough to bring you to your knees. It is shaped to pull you in and wring you out in all the best and worst ways. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt this way about a book, and I’m not sure I ever will again. It is something special, and I’ll carry it with me, always. I hope you’ll read it too.

Details

Title:: In The Likely Event
Author:: Rebecca Yarros
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Montlake
Length:: 350 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 30m
Audiobook Narrator:: Carly Robins, Teddy Hamilton
Audiobook Publisher:: Brilliance Audio
Published:: August 1st, 2023
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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What is it about sports romance? As someone with no interest in athletics whatsoever, I never thought I’d enjoy reading them, but I got curious and picked one off of KU (Kindle Unlimited – no risk!) and just see. Well. Ahem. Since then, I’ve read my fair share, and – no one is more surprised to hear what I’m about to say than I am – they’re awesome.

The Graham Effect Elle Kennedy Book Cover

Gigi Graham, daughter of legendary hockey phenom Garrett Graham, has her heart set on the Olympics. She’s played hockey her whole life and loves the sport. Trouble is, the national team is dragging their toes in finalizing their roster, and has hinted at her weaknesses behind the goal. Luke Ryder is the new co-captain of the men’s team, which recently merged with another (rival) college that went under. He’s had to work hard for everything his whole life, and is just hoping to not screw anything up for himself this last year of college. His reputation is hanging by a thread after an incident the year before. Garrett Graham is looking for a coach for a training camp he runs for youngsters, and Ryder wants the spot – badly enough to offer to help the renowned coach’s daughter to work on her hockey weaknesses in exchange for a good word with her dad. Sparks fly and secrets begin to pile up as Gigi and Ryder pursue the futures they’ve always dreamed of.

At almost 500 pages, you really get to sit in this story for awhile. For some, that might be a turnoff, but I almost always welcome large page counts, if the story supports them. Could it have been shorter? Of course. But with all the subplots introduced, the author really gives each their time in the sun and weaves through all the subtleties, creating a story just as complex as real life can be. And each thread was tied up nicely with a bow by the end. I was personally glad to have so much time with the characters.

This is the first book I’ve ever read of Elle Kennedy, but I’ve read this is the first book in a spinoff second-generation series. I like that idea. I’m assuming that Garret Graham was a hero of one of the first-generation books. He seems like he’d have been a great leading man back in the day *eyebrow wiggle*. I feel like there is enough of him in this book to satisfy fans of the previous series too. It’s always fun to see old characters make new story cameos, right?

I docked a star because the secrecy stretches on a little long for me. It kept coming up and I felt like I was reading the same we’re not ready to reveal ourselves yet over and over (maybe if it wasn’t spelled out so frequently it wouldn’t have bothered me as much). While I found this book compelling and entertaining and sweet, it was missing some deeper X-Factor for me I can’t quite put my finger on. All the elements were there, but it didn’t quite reach 5-star status for me (I don’t hand ’em out easy!).

I’d recommend this book for those who are big fans of sports romance, or are just looking for a good college romance to sink their teeth into for the summer. The great news is, if you like it, there are a lot more to keep you busy reading for some time to come!

Details

Title:: The Graham Effect (Campus Diaries #1)
Author:: Elle Kennedy
Genre:: Romance
Publisher:: EKI
Length:: 498 pages
Audio Length:: 14h 3m
Audiobook Narrator:: CJ Bloom & Teddy Hamilton
Audiobook Publisher:: Tantor Audio
Published:: October 31, 2023
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
Spice Rating:: 4