3-Star Archives - Page 2 of 4

Book Review:: The Goldens | Lauren Wilson

Lauren Wilson’s new book The Goldens will have you sucked into the orbit of a young influencer and experience first-hand the dogma that can lead impressionable young people down a path they may not even realize they’re being led down. It’s an excellent commentary on the tides of social media and social manipulation packed into a suspenseful novel that will have you raising, then clenching your eyebrows.

Clara is a golden girl. She seems to have everything a young woman might ever hope for: wealth, beauty, a social media following, all the new ‘it’ items, and even setting trends herself. She’s also far more approachable than one might think. A fortuitous coincidence of matching initials leads Chloe to meet her, and they hit it off. Chloe is a bit infatuated with the whole aura Clara has going on, and she becomes her right hand, indispensable, and she revels in the feeling of being loved and needed by someone so cool. But as more of Clara’s layers are revealed, and her actions start taking things too far, Chloe wonders if everything is as it seems, or if she needs to start removing herself from what others are beginning to call a cult.

While this book was fascinating, it wasn’t quite as compelling as I’d have liked. It approached a real suspense novel a few times, and I think it would have been amazing if that had been leaned into a little bit more. The description calls it a thriller, but I wouldn’t agree at all, and I think that’s where my inclination to rate to three stars comes from. The messages it explores are incredibly important, especially for young ladies who are always trying to fit in and find their place among their contemporaries.

One of the strengths I think is that the characters are portrayed very well to support the story. Everyone has the right kind of background and history to fuel the circumstances they find themselves in now, and the ending was absolutely haunting. I’m looking forward to reading more from this debut author!

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 Goldens
Author:: Lauren Wilson
Genre:: Contemporary Suspense
Publisher:: Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar
Length:: 304 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 25m
Audiobook Narrator:: Cassandra Harwood
Published:: July 15th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Splendid Little Schemes | Robin Strong
These Summer Storms | Sarah MacLean
Hate Follow | Erin Quinn-Kong

Book Review:: If You Love It, Let It Kill You | Hannah Pittard

I was this today years old when I learned what auto-fiction is. A fictional story using elements from the author’s real life. To be honest, I didn’t even catch that’s what this was until I saw every other review mentioning it. Apparently the ending was an actual break in the fourth wall! Now that I am aware of the format I am….confused?

If You Love It, Let It Kill You by Hannah Pittard Book Cover

I liked the concept of this novel: a bit of a mid-life crisis brought on by an ex-husband writing her into his most recent book painted in a bad light. I enjoyed a lot of the storytelling, even forgave some of the more…egregious aspects. Perhaps it is the intention of a novel like this to leave the reader in the uncomfortable space of questioning what exactly about the pages they just read is real and what is devised for literary intrigue. I hope to god the cat is in the later category.

Hmm. I’m flummoxed.

I think you might enjoy this book is you are an enthusiast of strange and unique writing. If you like the complicated, thought provoking, uncomfortable sort of book. But also, maybe, like me, you will rather think of it as a metaphor for some of life’s more devastating emotional blows and the way they affect us.

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 You Love It, Let It Kill You
Author:: Hannah Pittard
Genre:: Auto-Fiction
Publisher:: Henry Holt & Co.
Length:: 304 pages
Audio Length:: 7h 36m
Audiobook Narrator:: Allyson Ryan
Published:: July 15th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3.5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

The Homemade God | Rachel Joyce
The Accidental Favorite | Fran Littlewood
My Friends | Fredrik Backman

Book Review:: Both Things Are True | Kathleen Barber

I love a good complex second chance romance story, but hanging it all upon a series of miscommunications is risky business, and in Kathleen Barber’s new release Both Things Are True, I didn’t quite buy it.

Both Things Are True by Kathleen Barber Book Cover

After years apart, Vanessa and Sam end up living in the same building. Both of them are at pivotal moments in their lives and careers and are harboring old feelings for one another. The present timeline is honestly so sweet between the two of them, and I totally bought into all the romance and leftover feelings. I was rooting for them so hard. But as their past started revealing itself in layers, and especially once the revelations came up in the back half of the book, the problems that came up between them made me like them less. It was one miscommunication after another. Really, did they understand one another at all? I accept that miscommunication is a realistic element to many serious relationships, but to rely on that entirely and for that to ‘fix’ everything in the end…it kind of ruined the good thing they had going.

Would I still recommend this book? Gah, maybe. There is still plenty of good romance and other storylines that make the novel interesting, but it wasn’t a smash hit for me. Hey, both things are true.

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:: Both Things Are True
Author:: Kathleen Barber
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Lake Union Publishing
Length:: 303 pages
Audio Length:: 8h 38m
Audiobook Narrator:: Amy Handelman
Published:: September 1st, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Summertime Punchline | Betty Corrello
Not Safe for Work | Nisha J. Tuli
What Happens in Amsterdam | Rachel Lynn Solomon

Book Review:: Save Me | Mona Kasten

If you’re a fan of teen dramas, buckle in, because Save Me by Mona Kasten is the broody romance series you’ve likely been waiting for. Fist published in German, the book series the Prime series Maxton Hall is based on is now available in English!

Ruby is the Rory Gilmore of Maxton Hall, except she doesn’t have a wealthy benefactor family paying her way into the distinguished private school. She has a dream extensively planned out, and that is to go to Oxford. She’s not at school to party or socialize – in fact, she keeps her school life strictly separate from home life, because she’s not like the other students at school – she’s had the same ruddy backpack for years. Everything is just as she likes it, until she witnesses something she shouldn’t in one of the classrooms, and another student, the heir to a billionaire business, confronts her about keeping quiet. She doesn’t want a bribe, she’s happy to keep quiet, and he can’t understand that at all.

After that, Ruby and James are officially on each other’s radars, and are thrown together in unexpected ways. James is the opposite of Ruby in so many aspects, and their clashing together is delicious fodder for drama.

I can confidently say my high school experience was nothing like the extra-cirricular lives of these Maxton Hall kids. It’s typical rich-kid shit as portrayed in pop culture. These parties are laden with sex, drugs, and bad decisions.

There are a lot of really sweet moments while Ruby and James dance around getting to know each other, and always tainted by this knowledge that their lives are too fundamentally different to be anything more than friends. So will they? Or won’t they? You’ll have to read to find out!

Save Me covers most of Ruby and James’ senior year, as they’re navigating college admissions and face the possibility of their futures. One thing this book is sure to remind you of is hard it can be to be a kid. So much pressure, so many opportunities that will take your life in one direction or another. The weight of expectations. It’s not easy.

I’m certainly interested in what comes next for Ruby and James. We’re left off at quite a dramatically intricate scene and I’m nervous what lies in store!

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:: Save Me (Maxton Hall #1)
Author:: Mona Kasten
Genre:: Young Adult (YA) Drama
Publisher:: Berkley (English) LYX (German)
Length:: 416 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 53m
Audiobook Narrator:: Will Watt & Marisa Calin
Published:: July 1st, 2025 (English) February 23, 2018 (German)
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Adam and Evie’s Matchmaking Tour | Nora Nguyen
Steal My Breath Away | Sarah Castille
Songs of Summer | Jane L. Rosen

Book Review:: Let’s Make A Scene | Laura Wood

A novel about movie stars fake dating…twice? Color me intrigued. I had high hopes for Laura Wood’s new book Let’s Make A Scene.

Let's Make A Scene by Laura Wood Book Cover

Unfortunately, for me, the constant jumping back and forth from past to present and back again got very confusing. On one hand, Cynthie and Jack are on their first movie set and unintentional sparks are flying. On the other, they’re years in the future, starting work on the sequel of the same project, thrown together again. Maybe the two sides of the coin were just not different enough? In both they are antagonistic toward one another, in both they start catching feelings. I just found myself double checking constantly which timeline we were in.

With a fundamental issue like that, it made it hard to sink into the story. With that being said, however, it is clear that Laura Wood understand romance and how to craft some interesting characters to play against one another. There was plenty of chemistry between Cynthie and Jack, and their night together in the kitchen is quite memorable! The ending also was justified and handled well, but by that point it had already lost the spark for me.

I am absolutely still interested in reading more from Laura Wood, this one just didn’t quite hit the mark for 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:: Let’s Make A Scene
Author:: Laura Wood
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Atria
Length:: 352 pages
Published:: July 1st, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Once Upon A Crime | Brynn Kelly (Review Coming Soon)
Double Exposure | Elissa R Sloan
An Italian Wedding Adventure | Leonie Mack

Book Review:: Finders Keepers | Sarah Adler

Welcome home to your parent’s house, Nina Hunnicutt! That’s where catching your long-term boyfriend with someone else just as they’re supposed to be moving in together will get you. Rock bottom.

Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler Book Cover

But wait! Her once-best-friend is in the same boat at the same time. Burned by his ex-fiancé and home from abroad to sell the house next door, Quintin Bell might just be there to secure Nina’s own version of personal hell. Once upon a time, Nina and Quintin were as close as two friends can be, bonded over talking through their open windows, which face one another. In their last summer after high school graduation, they undertook the task of finding real-life treasure from an eccentric rich dude in town. They never found it, instead, it ended up breaking whatever connection they might have had at the time just before he left town. The wounds have calcified since then, but are not forgotten, and when Quintin brings up hunting for the treasure again now, as adults, she wants no part of it. That is, until she finds out there’s money in it no matter what, and that, just now, as an unemployed dweller in her parent’s metaphorical basement, is not something she can say no to.

This is a fun little summer adventure story. It’s not often one has real treasure to hunt for, and Nina and Q have to work together to make progress. This of course is perfect fodder for all sorts of rom-com shenanigans.

There were a lot of cute moments between Nina and Quintin. It was very clear that they had a long-standing friendship as kids that felt very authentic. Personally, I didn’t get as invested as I like in the romance of it. Maybe the treasure hunt took away from it for me, but it is still a fun summer read I would recommend if you’re someone who enjoys rom-coms.

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:: Finders Keepers
Author:: Sarah Adler
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 400 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 30m
Audiobook Narrator:: TBA
Published:: June 24th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

PS I Hate You | Lauren Connolly
Wish I Were Here | Melissa Wiesner
Perfect Fit | Clare Gilmore

Book Review:: Sounds Like Love | Ashley Poston

The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston was one of the most surprising delights when I was first getting heavy into romance. The voice, the concept, the execution – 10/10. I was recently provided an early copy of her latest novel, Sounds Like Love, and at first I was just as delighted. In fact, I immediately wrote down “Da**it Ashley Poston, your prose is impeccable”. I still stand by that, but the story this time didn’t hold up as well.

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston Book Review

Joni Lark is a songwriter in a rut. She’s had some hit songs, but the creative well is all dried up and it terrifies her. She’s hoping her annual summer trip back home to North Carolina will rejuvenate her and she’ll get back on track, but her mother is sick, her best friend is hiding something from her, her ex-lover happens to be in town, and there’s this new melody she just can’t get out of her head.

This book has a heavy dose of magical realism. Turns out the tune in her head is actually attached to a voice. Of a man. They literally read each other’s minds.

For me, this element could have maybe been okay if executed a little better. But the communication felt very heavily one-sided. Joni wasn’t reading much of Sasha’s intimate thoughts, only ones that made him more mysterious and wounded. I didn’t like that. It felt unrealistic for her own parameters of her story. Apply a rule and apply it to all.

There are certainly some sweet and swoony moments in this book, but for me there just wasn’t a strong enough foundation to make this work. I don’t think the ever-sacred logic was actually broken at any point, but my believeability was stretched to the point of buckling a few times.

It’s not a complete dumpster fire though. Joni’s family owns a music hall/dive bar, and that holds a lot of significance to her too. There is plenty of personal development for the characters (mostly Joni), and it does feel like a pretty full little world. It’s a nice atmospheric book to read, especially if you’re a music aficionado.

I’m honestly surprised by myself for dropping two stars on this, usually great prose trumps all for me (looking at you Carley Fortune), but part of the magic was just lost on me this time, and the writing wasn’t enough to save it for me.

Now, should you read this book? Yes! But if you’ve never read Ashley Poston before, I’d be remiss if I didn’t recommend The Dead Romantics first!

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:: Sounds Like Love
Author:: Ashley Poston
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 384 pages
Audio Length:: 11h 25m
Audiobook Narrator:: Patti Murin & Ashlley Poston
Published:: June 17th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Wish I Were Here | Melissa Wiesner
If I Were You | Cesca Major
Songs of Summer | Jane L. Rosen

Book Review:: Slow Burn Summer | Josie Silver

Fake it until you make it. Good advice, right? Maybe not always.

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver Book Cover

Kate Elliot was an actress as a young woman. Now, after a divorce, she reaches out to her old agency in a last-ditch effort to get a job to support herself. Turns out his son has taken over the agency, and he has an idea for her she never could have anticipated: be the face of a book written by another author who doesn’t wish to be connected to the work in any way. She’s not a ghostwriter, she’s just the ghost. It’s odd, but she’s desperate, so she agrees. With the help of her agent, Charlie they begin crafting a whole persona, and when it comes time to launch the book, she’s got tour appearances, radio, and tv interviews to navigate. But it’ll be fine, she’s an actress, after all. And Charlie is there to make sure she’s okay every step of the way. But why does it still feel uncomfortable?

I’m not sure I even understand the premise of this book. It’s explained in full, but does it actually make sense? Why would a publishing house go through all this dang trouble to sell a book they’re sure will sell anyway? It is inherently risky and they’re kind of asking for it to blow up in their face. For me, the dishonesty of it just niggled at me through the whole thing.

That being said, I did enjoy the romance of it. Charlie is a man written by a woman, for sure. He’s protective and sultry and never says the wrong thing. There are a few really swoon-worthy moments. It’s not a straight-forward thing though (it never is). There are plenty of hurdles that stand between them in a way that reminded me a little bit of Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan or The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center.

Overall it is an easy entertaining read, but nothing about it really stood out to me as being exceptional. I’m glad I read it, but I probably won’t go back to reread it, so I gave it three 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:: Slow Burn Summer
Author:: Josie Silver
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Random House Ballantine | Dell
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 11h
Audiobook Narrator:: TBA
Published:: June 10th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

The Perfect Rom-Com | Melissa Ferguson
Yin Yang Love Song | Lauren King Jessen
Yours Truly | Abby Jimenez
The Rom-Commers | Katherine Center

Book Review:: The Guest Cottage | Lori Foster

For fans of the Hallmark Channel, I give you, The Guest Cottage, by Lori Foster – the first book in her new Firefly Summer series.

The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster Book Cover

A woman named Marlow is in need of a fresh start after her recent ex-husband unexpectedly dies. He used to be her whole life, until her job with his highly successful family became her focus, and they lost sight of their relationship. This series of events brings with it a complex set of emotions, and she finds she just needs to get away. After some research, Marlow finds a place that is perfect, a little lake town called Bramble Kentucky. The landlord turns out to be an emotionally intelligent ex-marine named Cort who helps her work through her feelings and next steps. Just when Marlow feels like she’s starting to settle into the slower lifestyle of Bramble, her ex’s mistress shows up in need of help in more ways than one. And though Marlow feels like she’s found her forever home, the town itself is not accepting of outsiders.

Told in a very calm and measured tone of voice, The Guest Cottage is full of drama and conflict that never tips over the scale into stressful territory. If I had to describe it in a word, I’d give it: cozy.

Everyone deserves second chances, including just about every character in this book. More than anything, I feel this story is about community, compassion, and found family. After reading it, I felt on some level that something inside me somewhere was healed a little bit. It wasn’t quite as engaging and high-stakes as I generally prefer my fiction to be, but it was certainly worth the time spent reading 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:: The Guest Cottage (Firefly Summer #1)
Author:: Lori Foster
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Kensington
Length:: 304 pages
Audio Length:: 13h 20m
Audiobook Narrator:: Piper Goodeve
Published:: May 27th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

It’s All Relative | Rachel Magee
The Christmas Inn | Pamela Kelley
Counting Miracles | Nicholas Sparks

Book Review:: Racing Heart | Darci St. John

I read every racing romance I can get my hands on, so I was pleased to be selected as an arc reviewer for Darci St. John’s newest release, Racing Heart.

Racing Heart by Darci St. John Book Cover

Jordan, an elite racer recovering from injury, is in the UK for his sister’s wedding. Pearl is there too, but not for the reasons she was led to believe. Her family dropped some bombshell news and to cope, she gets drunk and naked with the handsome man she finds on the beach. He invites her to his sister’s wedding and to get away from her own drama, she agrees.

Pearl and Jordan are so well matched in this book. They meet at the exact right moment and are able to use each other as life vests in a way, something to hold onto while everything else is kind of chaos. Their connection seemed genuine, but there was not a whole lot of longing or swoony moments. I didn’t seem to miss it though, that’s not the kind of story this is. Thinking about that, I don’t think this is the kind of story of MFEO these-two-would-end-up-together-no-matter-what story. If they didn’t have their chance meeting there on that beach, it’s unlikely they’d have connected the same way. It’s not trauma bonding exactly, but not a fated sort of situation either, at least in my opinion.

I think I would have rated the book higher except for the soap opera level of drama on the periphery of the story. I think I just didn’t buy Pearl’s mother’s origin story well. It cast a strange pallor over everything.

What I really loved is the extended and thorough ending. It’s not the usual pacing of a ‘standard’ romance where things get wrapped up in a matter of pages…this one gives you time to breathe and live with the characters as they resolve all the little threads that need tied up before we leave them to their happily ever after. It just felt refreshing.

I also loved that Jordan got to go dirt track racing – that’s where you can find my family on summer weekends with my husband racing his open wheel cars. When they took out their sunglasses to dodge flying dirt I laughed out loud!

I have to say I’m curious about this series. I see the first book is the sister’s story, and though I know a few things about what happen in the previous book naturally from the narrative of this sequel, I think I may still pick it up.

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:: Racing Heart (Apex Racing #2)
Author:: Darci St. John
Genre:: Sports Romance
Publisher:: BooksGoSocial
Published:: May 20th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars