2025 Release Archives - Page 12 of 13

Book Review:: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave | Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan’s relentless adventure continues in her fifth book, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave. Not only is it my favorite title of the series, it might be my favorite installment of the series, period.

If you’re new to the Finlay Donovan world, welcome! You’re in for a wild and exciting ride, but you’re going to want to start it at the beginning. To avoid any spoilers for you, start with my review of Finlay Donovan is Killing It and I’ll see you back here in a few books! If you’re wondering if this series is worth the investment of time – my answer is emphatically yes.

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano Book Cover

Just when we thought she might be out of the woods, the dead body in Mrs. Haggerty’s backyard turns out to have a connection to Steven, and as we learned in book two, Finlay may have her qualms with the man, but she isn’t about to let him go down…especially when she believes he’s being framed. Steven’s ill-renowned womanizing ways are catching up with him (again), and Finlay is the only one who seems to think the woman claiming an affair with him is lying. When two crime podcasters catch wind of the connection, Finlay and Vero have to step back into action with their own investigation to find out what really happened before Steven gets pinned with the murder.

I feel like Cosimano has gotten back to the roots of Finlay’s story in this book. It’s not quite the same ‘caught in a web of consequences I could have never anticipated’ magic as Killing It has, but it felt far more simplified and organic than the last few, which were becoming so tangled and convoluted it was hard to keep track of all the moving pieces. They were still good (my reviews are linked at the end of this post if you need a refresher), but they were almost break-neck in their pacing. This one still has a lot going on, but it felt much more manageable.

More than any other in this series so far, this book is about girl power: female friendship, companionship, and trust. One might say it’s the main theme in the series, and the embodiment in this book was exactly what you might expect from a Finlay story while still being mysterious and surprising as hell. Sometimes we are all each other has, and we shan’t be underestimated 😉

It’s almost stupid how easy it is to pull me in with a little bit of romance…after Finlay’s confessions to Nick in the last book, I couldn’t wait to see the state of their affair afterwards. It’s no secret I’m a fan of that man, and I giggled in delight at the developments between these pages. Speaking of love, Vero and Javi are working some kinks out of their whirlwind relationship behind the scenes, and I can’t wait to see where that leads. That woman deserves a little bit of romance – soak it in, girl!

And did I forget to mention the Hollywood exec thirsting for movie rights to Finlay’s books? Some of his conditions are problematic, and sure to stir up more trouble down the road…

This series is pure, hilarious gold, and I’m so happy to see there are at least two more books lined up in this series. I’m happy to proclaim my love from the rooftops, because more readers mean more books, and that is always welcome news to me. If there’s an author I trust to pull off a long series based on accidental crime and complicated hijinks, at this point, I think Cosimano has proven she’s it.

Details

Title:: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (Finlay Donovan #5)
Author:: Elle Cosimano
Genre:: Contemporary Mystery
Publisher:: Minotaur Books
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 18m
Audiobook Narrator:: Angela Dawe
Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio
Published:: March 4th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Book One
Book Two
Book Three
Book Four

How to Solve Your Own Murder | Kristen Perrin

Book Review:: Love and Other Paradoxes | Catriona Silvey

Love and Other Paradoxes is just another run-of-the-mill woman-comes-from-the-future-to-change-the-past-and-boy-gets-caught-up-in-the-crossfire situation.

Love and other Paradoxes by Catriona Silvey Book Cover

Joseph Greene wants to be the next great poet, so much so that he’s had poet’s-block (like writer’s-block for poets, get it?) since he started at Cambridge. Now in his third year, it’s time to shit-or-get-off-the-pot, poetically. Suddenly he starts noticing people looking at him strangely in the streets, and a chance encounter with a girl who claims she’s from the future changes everything he thought he knew and the course of his future at the same time.

It’s a book about time travel, the choices we make, questioning the things we thought were important, and second chances. It’s an interesting concept, but for me, this book really struggled to accomplish its goals.

I’m not an expert on time travel, but these characters are the opposite of experts on time travel when they really should know something about it since the entire plot hinges on the facts. The whole concept is a little messy…as in I had a lot of questions as I read, and not the good kind. The kind that should have been answered far earlier than they were. I didn’t feel grounded enough. I realize it kind of had to be that way for the plot, but that fatal flaw is why I’ve only rated this book two stars.

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:: Love and Other Paradoxes
Author:: Catriona Silvey
Genre:: Sci-Fi Romance
Publisher:: William Morrow
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 9h
Audiobook Narrator:: Nicholas Ralph
Audiobook Publisher:: Harper Audio
Published:: March 11th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 2-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Ghosted | Sarah Ready
Wish I Were Here | Melissa Wiesner
The Unmaking of June Farrow | Adrienne Young

Book Review:: Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

A few years ago I was in a phase of absolutely inhaling books for a minute there. Most of what I read then is now a blur, but one book among them stands out. I still think of it often: Migrations, by Charlotte McConaghy. When I saw she has a new release, I jumped at the chance to read it early, and I’m so grateful to have received an early copy through the publisher and netgalley. If there is one thing I know to be true about her works, it’s that you can count on her for an interesting, intelligent work that includes fascinating scientific facts that are woven into the story so well they become unforgettable. Oh yeah, and the stories are compelling as hell, too.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy Book Cover

In Wild Dark Shore the body of a woman washes up on a tiny island called Shearwater far off the southern coast of Australia – closest to Antartica. There she is rescued by the only living souls on the island: a father and his three children. The only other occupants of the island are an abandoned research facility, and a seed bank the rising seas are threatening to drown.

This novel is shrouded in secrecy. The family has secrets, the woman has secrets, and the eerie island itself has secrets. As the woman, Rowan, gets to know the family, the lines of secrecy start to blur, and everything she thought she knew, even the deepest truths of her own character, turn out to be malleable.

I think the closest description I can come up with to describe the genre of this book is a literary thriller. It is moody and dark and mysterious and there is always a sense of impending doom. The island itself is out to get them in a way, between the freezing temperatures, the violent seas, the frequent storms, and the rocky terrain, anything at all could happen. And it has. The island is known for its ghosts, and Rowan is there to find one of them.

The characterization of this novel is wonderful. Each of them is interesting in their own right, and whatever it is that makes them most unique adds something to the story. Things happen the way they do because of the personalities on the island. I like that we have a middle-aged woman who’s been tossed around by the world a little bit, alone, but strong, as the focus of the narrative. It’s an important perspective and I feel like I don’t see it enough.

The writing, too, is gorgeous. Bleak and beautiful. It was something that stood out to me about Migrations as well, her style is very world-weary, but there is always that little spark of hope to keep you going.

The version I read was the audiobook, and the voice actors did a wonderful job. There were multiple voices for the multiple POVs, and each of them seemed to match the characters very well.

Like Migrations, I think Wild Dark Shore is a book that is going to stick with me for a long time. It is haunting and lovely and sometimes disturbing but ultimately about survival and the lengths we’ll go to accomplish it for ourselves and the ones we love.

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:: Wild Dark Shore
Author:: Charlotte McConaghy
Genre:: Literary Thriller
Publisher:: Flatiron Books
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 35m
Audiobook Narrator:: Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, Steve West
Audiobook Publisher:: Macmillan Audio
Published:: March 4th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

A Sea of Unspoken Things | Adrienne Young
Every Moment Since | Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
The Heiress | Rach e l Hawkins

Book Review:: The Perfect Rom-Com | Melissa Ferguson

I am happy to report another 5-star romance to blissfully indulge in with a title that isn’t shy about what it is: The Perfect Rom Com.

The Perfect Rom Com by Melissa Ferguson Book Cover

Bryony Page is a passionate ESL teacher with a dream of becoming an author and using her earnings to bolster the perpetually under-funded school she works at. She’s written a profound literary masterpiece that is twice the length of a typical debut novel and is frantically trying to find a publisher who will give it a chance. Jack Sterling, literary agent to the stars, is her last chance…but when their short meeting begins to tank, she surprises him with her quick wit and sharp analysis skills, and he realizes she might be the answer he’s been searching for for another project. If she agrees to ghostwrite one of the biggest names in the biz, he’ll work with her to get her passion project greenlit.

And thus begins the most romantic of romances.

Bryony’s character is very well developed. She has dreams and passions and history, and as far as her work is concerned, she knows exactly what she wants, and she’s determined to get it. Jack’s character is maybe not as visible in the story, but he doesn’t feel flat. He’s incredibly good at his high stress job, and though that makes it hard to distinguish his true feelings from Bryony’s perspective, since she’s his client and he’ll do anything to appease his clients, I feel like the integrity of his character is plain as day.

The romance is so deliciously crafted. They can’t really indulge in a usual romance because of their unique situation, but the friendship that develops between them is so genuine and endearing it fuels the craving and yearning for more. Everyone seems to see the potential between them before Bryony, and I was SO on board for every succulent sentence of it.

The story’s development didn’t lack either. There are real, serious conflicts that Bryony and Jack are contending with that don’t have easy answers, but in perfect rom com fashion, everything resolves itself in the end, and the characters are done justice in a way that satisfies the built-up tension.

I was seriously so engrossed in this book the way that only great ones can do. I can’t wait to read more from Melissa Ferguson, and I hope you find the time to add this one to your ever-expanding TBR if you’re a romance lover like me!

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 Perfect Rom Com
Author:: Melissa Ferguson
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Thomas Nelson
Length:: 304 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 10m
Audiobook Narrator:: Karissa Vacker
Published:: February 11th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Business Casual | BK Borison
Funny Story | Emily Henry
Hello Stranger | Katherine Center
The Slowest Burn | Sarah Chamberlain

Book Review:: Change of Heart | Falon Ballard

Our lives are made up of one moment to the next – moments that are mostly logical and organic as they happen. If we’re not careful, those moments that make so much sense up close may lead us down a path we never wanted for ourselves. Sometimes we have to zoom out to make sure we’re on the right track. You can do it yourself as part of your planning, goal-setting, or self-care regimens…

*OR*

you might be forced into an alternate dimension by a magic waitress that forces you to examine your life in new ways.

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard Book Cover

That’s what happened to Campbell and the blind date her grandmother set her up with. She was out on another obligatory date, which she had no time for and blatantly blew off, even still at dinner with him, without having had any attempt at conversation with him. Then she wakes up in Heart Springs, a tiny warped town she’s stuck in like a waking dream until she fulfills all the right criteria. She must find work she loves, participate in the community, and experience true love. Oh, and the blind date is there too, with his own mission.

Sigh.

If you’re looking for a straight up Hallmark movie in a novel, you’ve found it. Exaggerated, but fun if you don’t look too closely and syrupy sweet.

We start with a character who is straight up unlikeable, and by the end she learns important lessons ‘the hard way’ before her inevitable happily ever after.

I had a few problems with it.

The love interest didn’t make any sense. He was pretty much only in Hope Springs as an accessory. He was far underdeveloped and a huge wasted opportunity.
Campbell was just too unlikeable. She doesn’t really redeem herself. Her motivation is purely to do whatever she has to to get back home to her shitty New York existence. She changes, but I’m not convinced she’s really learned anything long-term. It ends too quickly for someone so flawed, in my opinion.
I didn’t care enough. Due to the first two problems, I just didn’t really care what happened. There would obviously be a happy ending, and the details didn’t interest me much.

Now, this isn’t Falon Ballard’s first book. In fact, I have two others on my bookshelf right now that I haven’t read yet and have been looking forward to. I’m still going to read them and I’m hoping she’ll blow away my expectations with those, because this one…didn’t.

I can see how this book might appeal to younger romance readers, or ones with a penchant for whimsy. It just didn’t work for me.

Onwards and upwards, my friends.

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:: Change of Heart
Author:: Falon Ballard
Genre:: Romance
Publisher:: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Length:: 336 pages
Audio Length:: 10h
Audiobook Narrator:: Carly Robins
Audiobook Publisher:: Penguin Audio
Published:: February 11th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 2-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Wished | Sarah Ready
If I Were You | Cesca Major
Wish I Were Here | Melissa Wiesner

Book Review:: Yin Yang Love Song | Lauren Kung Jessen

Love. Why is it so many are in pursuit of a thing that can cause so much pain? Heartache is a real thing, with real, physical, symptoms. Is it ever worth it?

Yin Yang Love Song by Lauren Kung Jessen Book Cover

Chryssy has dedicated her life to healing with an eastern, Chinese medicine, approach. She and her auntie’s run a retreat center to help the lovesick heal their broken hearts. She has plenty of experience with them. Her whole family does, in fact, because the women of her family are cursed. Not a one of them has had a successful long-term relationship because one of their ancestors cursed them. She’s come to accept it. So when a celebrity cellist comes along asking to strike up a deal for a publicity-relationship, she doesn’t see any reason not to. When she starts catching feelings though…she’s convinced they’re doomed for heartache all over again.

This book has a lot of really cozy elements. Chryssy essentially makes people cups of custom tea for a living, after all. She listens well to people, hears between the lines what they may need, and prepares for them something to help. Reading about that process was very calming.

The structure was quite good as well: having Vin’s brother be in need of Chryssy’s family’s services was an organic in for the fake dating element. For me, that trope is over-tired, but for this book it didn’t make me roll my eyes, at least. There was enough meat in the plot to keep things interesting.

That being said, I was hoping for a little more steam in the romance. I liked both Vin and Chryssy, and while there were some sweet moments, I was left wanting a little bit more. I was missing the fireworks. The pop and sizzle of real, deep chemistry.

Luckily there was more to this book than just the romance. I really enjoyed learning about Chryssy’s business and her knowledge of Chinese medicine. Her auntie’s added some layered interest to the story. The B-Plot of the family curse didn’t do a lot for me outside of it being the vehicle for Chryssy to do some soul-searching and self-examination of her own beliefs brought on by the curse-myth upheld by her family. I found this novel to be just as much about personal growth as it was about finding love.

I was granted an early listening copy of the title from netgalley and the publisher, and I really enjoyed the audio narration. I recommend it if you’re able to get your hands on it.

Details

Title:: Yin Yang Love Song
Author:: Lauren Kung Jessen
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Forever
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 3m
Audiobook Narrator:: Eunice Wong & Eric Yang
Audiobook Publisher:: Forever
Published:: January 28th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

DNA Duology | Christina Lauren
Sunshine & Spice | Aurora Palit
Adam & Evie’s Matchmaking Tour | Nora Nguyen

Book Review:: Unloved | Peyton Corinne

If you were a big fan of Icebreaker, Unloved is another college hockey romance with spice, heart, and finding your place you that will scratch that same itch.

Matt Fedderic is a hockey star with learning disorders that make it difficult for him to stay eligible for the team. Ro is his new tutor. She has a toxic ex who builds himself up by bringing her down, and though he doesn’t want to date her, he doesn’t want to be rid of her either, since she’s an easy punching bag. Matt has a reputation for getting around, fueled by the gaping hole left by his piece of crap father and his mother’s passing. As Matt and Ro spend more time together, a friendship forms between them, and maybe even something deeper.

For me, this was an enjoyable read, but there were some problems. The fact that most of their early tension and attraction was caused by two different nights they had together that the other couldn’t remember and was formative to the other…that just seemed problematic to me. Especially the prologue – since there is another scene based on that plot device a little later on, I kind of wish it hadn’t been included.

There is some pretty dark stuff insinuated in this book. Matt’s sexual past is…not great. It mentions some action with a high school teacher at one point. …um, what? And then his most recent ex is nothing but bad news as well. And Ro’s ex had zero redeeming qualities or background to back up his actions toward her.

I don’t know. A lot of it was a little too much for me. If there were a volume dial on the drama scale I might have turned it down like two notches.

The relationship between Ro & Matt was sweet though. Having them prioritize friendship between them for so long was absolutely necessary for these two and absolutely refreshing. It was clear they weren’t just horny for one another, but that they really cared about the other in much deeper ways. They are both going through some rough stuff, and they show up for each other every time it counts. That’s the kind of stuff I love in a romance.

Unloved is really what I’m finding to be a ‘typical’ college sports romance novel. It’s long, there are lots of plotlines, family traumas, lessons to be learned, steamy scenes, and a nice happy ending at the end. For me, it felt like I’d read it before honestly. There wasn’t enough there to stand out, but I read A LOT of romance. But this is exactly what you might be looking for if you were a big fan of Icebreaker by Hannah Grace.

Details

Title:: Unloved (The Undone #2)
Author:: Peyton Corinne
Genre:: Sports Romance
Publisher:: Atria Books
Length:: 464 pages
Audio Length:: 14h
Audiobook Narrator:: TBA
Audiobook Publisher:: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published:: February 4th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars
Spice Rating:: 3

If you liked this book, check out…

The Graham Effect | Elle Kennedy
The Cheat Sheet/The Rule Book | Sarah Adams
Catch & Keep | Erin Hahn

Book Review:: I’ll Come To You | Rebecca Kauffman

This book is my cup of tea. Like drinking a strong cup of tea at the exact right temperature, really. It warmed me up from the inside and put a contented smile on my face while I sat back in pure comfort to read. Bliss.

I'll Come to You by Rebecca Kauffman Book Cover

I’ll Come to You is a true family saga, though perhaps a little short for such a label. This novel encapsulates the space of a year for one extended family, beginning with the news of a new baby near Christmas in the mid-nineties. We hear from the mother, the father, grandparents, and siblings as they come at the recent events through their own lenses. Each of them has a history and their own troubles.

The vignettes that make up the book were each a captivating and intriguing piece of the story. Most are only a snapshot in time, perhaps lasting a few hours, but with thoughts and implications that are outside of time, existing mostly within the character’s personal history and reflections upon their own wisdom.

It is one deeply human moment after another, and I’m sad it wasn’t longer. I hope you’ll read it. I know this won’t be the last time I do.

Note:: I received an audiobook copy of this book through the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Details

Title:: I’ll Come to You
Author:: Rebecca Kauffman
Genre:: Literary Fiction
Publisher:: Counterpoint LLC
Length:: 224 pages
Audio Length:: 6h 12m
Audiobook Narrator:: Elisabeth Rodgers
Audiobook Publisher:: Recorded Books
Published:: January 7th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

The Most Fun We Ever Had | Claire Lombardo
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Book Review:: Only in Your Dreams | Ellie K. Wilde

As you may know, timing is everything from love to war, and Melody and Zac never had theirs right.

Only in Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde Book Cover

They met in high school, growing close as Zac and Melody’s twin brother Parker were on the same football team. They both held secret crushes on one another, but in one night all hope of potential between the two of them was dashed. Now years later Melody is back in town after a breakup she’s only now realizing was a terrible and manipulative relationship in the first place, and she and Zac face each other for the first time since that night.

He never forgot about her.

This book is what I like to call candy. It’s not hyper realistic, but it is full bodied and compelling. There’s just this layer of escapism required to really sink into. It’s like some kind of bubble gum alter reality that encapsulates the story. That’s not to say there is lots of drama, just that it’s hallmark drama. If there’s an issue, it’s a big ass issue, and he’s not just longing for her, he’s framed his whole life around her. Everything is bigger, so you can’t mistake the message.

Poor Melody was in a relationship with a real douchbag. He slowly but surely tricked her into getting the ‘right’ kind of job and having only the ‘right’ type of friends, dressing in the ‘right’ kind of clothes and eating the ‘right’ kind of foods. And then he dropped her like a hot potato when he wanted to sleep with other ladies on a boys trip.

This is what lands her back in her hometown. Her brother thinks it’s a good idea to throw her directly to the wolves when he sends her on a camping trip with a handful of friends, one of them being Zac, who she hasn’t spoken to since his broken promise all those years ago.

She’s struggling to figure out what she wants to do with her life, and Zac has been pushed into a job he wasn’t ready for as a head coach for a flailing football team. She was always his good luck charm in high school, and now she’s back.

What she finds in Oakwood is a support network surrounding her, helping her to heal from the shitty things she put up with for too long from the ex-boyfriend Cooper. Only then is she able to picture her future.

I really enjoyed this book. It pulls on the romance heartstrings we love. The boys are really protective, the feelings stretch back for years, and the reconnection is fire. It wasn’t perfect for me though. The camping trip rubbed me a bit of the wrong way and it turns out it was the basis for most of the plot in the first half of the book. I couldn’t quite give it five stars for that.

Also, this book is very spicy. Not erotica territory, but I thought I’d mention it. If you’re sensitive to spice, I’d pass on this one.

Note: I received an audiobook copy of this book from the publisher though netgalley. All opinions are honest and my own.

Details

Title:: Only in Your Dreams (Oakwood Bay #1)
Author:: Ellie K. Wilde
Genre:: Romance
Publisher:: Atria Books
Length:: 432 pages
Audio Length:: 14h
Audiobook Narrator:: Teddy Hamilton & Carly Robins
Audiobook Publisher:: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published:: January 21st, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars
Spice Rating:: 4.5

If you liked this book, check out…

The Graham Effect | Elle Kennedy
Play Along | Liz Tomforde
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Book Review:: Babylonia | Costanza Casati

Ancient history fascinates me. Getting to read such vibrant and extensively-researched fictional interpretations like this one is such a treat.

Babylonia by Costanza Casati Hardcover Book Cover

Babylonia is the story of a girl who came from nothing. Less than nothing, some might argue. Semiramus was born into shame, but by mercy of the gods, she survived. She became a young woman beaten down by hardship with only her own wits to rely upon. They serve her well as she navigates her fate in the ancient Assyrian Empire.

Because of her hard upbringing, Semiramus never takes anything for granted. She knows what it is to suffer and to live in squalor, so when she comes to the greatest city in the Empire and gets to live in a palace, she doesn’t get complacent. She also has no fear. She befriends slaves and wild leopards. She does not let the King’s mother or the court’s spy master intimidate her. She trains with weapons like a soldier with her husband, and then by herself.

Babylonia by Costanza Casati Paperback Book Cover

When the army comes home from their siege at Balkh begging for more troops, Semiramus volunteers to come as one of the climbers. She does not take no for an answer, her husband and her King need help, and she is not one to sit idly by. Then, when there, she sees an opportunity the King’s advisors did not, and it leads them to great success. This clever act of bravery is yet another turn in her story that leads her down a more complicated and treacherous path she could never have anticipated.

This novel is beautifully immersive and speckled with immaculate detail. The names, the rituals, the exhibitions, battles, the dramas…I loved every minute of it. She is an example of making lemonade out of a few raggedy lemons and the importance of taking control of your own destiny. She is a strong woman in a time of strong women, and an absolute pleasure to read about.

I am so grateful to the publisher and netgalley for granting me an early review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Details

Title:: Babylonia: A Novel
Author:: Costanza Casati
Genre:: Mythological Fiction
Publisher:: Sourcebooks Landmark
Length:: 448 pages
Audio Length:: 16h 21m
Audiobook Narrator:: Ayesha Antoine
Audiobook Publisher:: Recorded Books
Published:: January 14th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars