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Book Review:: The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain | Hannah Brown

I admit I was expecting a lot less from The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain. The premise is fairly high concept, and I thought it would be another cheesy ‘throw-away’ summer vacation romance, but this new novel from Hannah Brown is so much more.

The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain by Hannah Brown Book Cover

When you hear someone has been engaged three times but never married, what do you think of them? Commitment-phobe? Too easily swept away by a little bit of romance? Indecisive? Not serious enough? It’s an embarrassing statistic (just ask Ross Gellar about his marital history), but unless you know the whole story, don’t be so quick to judge.

Relationships are complicated. We find people in different ways, and they can complement different sides of who we are. People also change and grow and need different things at different times in their lives. But when your third engagement blows up just days before the alter, even you might start to question what is wrong with you.

Oh Sybil, you beautiful soul. She is doing her best.

I really don’t want to spoil any of this story for you, so I won’t talk about the history of her love life except to say she has run into the latest of her three fiancées at a resort in Hawai’i and it leads to her confronting her past and learning to accept and love herself in a way she’s never been able to before.

This book is about growth and forgiveness. It’s about coming into your own, meeting yourself where you are, and understanding yourself in new ways. It’s an exploration of maturity and relationships and even mental wellness to some degree. It takes quite a bit to push me over the edge into top-tier territory, but Sybil Rain earned every last one of these five 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:: The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain
Author:: Hannah Brown
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Forever
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 12h
Audiobook Narrator:: Cherami Leigh
Published:: June 24th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

What Happens in Amsterdam | Rachel Lynn Solomon
Hate Mail | Donna Marchetti
The Unhoneymooners | Christna Lauren

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:: People We Meet on Vacation | Emily Henry

How is everyone sleeping on People We Meet on Vacation?! This is the last book on Emily Henry’s backlist for me to read and you know what? I’m just going to say it. It’s my favorite.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Book Cover

Poppy is living her dream life as a travel writer in New York City but for some reason, she’s not happy. She hasn’t been, actually, since she and her best friend Alex had a falling out a few years back. They used to go on vacation every year, scraping together their pennies in college to go anywhere-but-here. That’s when she fell in love with travel. So she bites the bullet and sends that first awkward hey-haven’t-talked-to-you-in-years-but-what’s-up text and to her delight and surprise, things pick up as if no time at all has passed. Texting soon leads to planning a new trip, and this one will fix everything for good. Hopefully.

My god there is something about a years spanning will they won’t they best friends with a little something more MFEO romance novel. Seriously, send me every rec you can think of that follows this same trajectory because MY HEART IN THESE NOVELS JUST CANNOT. If you’re chasing that same feeling, read this one, but also In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros. That one is darker than this, but it’s the same can’t-put-it-down-gah-get-your-shit-together energy this one has. Both of these…they just have their own electricity.

Poppy and Alex are opposites. She’s talkative and friendly and wants to get the most out of life. Alex is quiet and reserved and is happy with the life he has at home with his brothers. They had a little when-harry-met-sally style meet-cute and a life-changing friendship was born. Poppy and Alex are more fun than Harry and Sally, if it’s not blasphemous to say (H&S is one of my favorite movies too – clearly I have a type), but their problems also run deeper and had my heart in my throat so many times.

I’m telling you, this book had me in a chokehold. The timing of the flashbacks building up all those ‘almost’ moments and the ones that were so close and personal and foundational to their friendship that also make the possibility of ruining what they have too much to risk…I mean, it was just *chef’s kiss*

It is turning into a movie (screenplay by Yulin Kuang who’s debut novel came out last year, How to End A Love Story), but I’m not sure if I can bear to watch it. This book has buried itself into my heart and has become a part of me. That’s what a good book feels like. And I’m going to sit with that awhile before I risk tainting it (ha!).

Seriously though, if you’ve been putting off reading People We Meet on Vacation because you haven’t seen it hyped at all compared to the great Emily Henry’s other works, stop it. Pick it up right now. It’s phenomenal. Get the audiobook, too. Julia Whelan makes everything better.

Details

Title:: People We Meet on Vacation
Author:: Emily Henry
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 400 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 46m
Audiobook Narrator:: Julia Whelan
Published:: May 11th, 2021
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Book Review:: Writing Mr. Wrong | Kelley Armstrong

Wow! This is the first book I’ve read of Kelley Armstrong’s, but click over to her author’s website (button at the end of this post) to see her prolific backlist. It looks like she writes all kinds of genres, heavy in mystery, suspense, fantasy, and even horror. There are only two romcoms on there, and Writing Mr. Wrong is one of them. When I requested this audiobook from netgalley I had no idea what a seasoned author I was electing to take on, but it certainly blew me away. Now I’ve got all those others to add to my TBR.

Reader problems!

So Writing Mr. Wrong is about two mid-thirties kids who once went to school together. They had a will-they-won’t-they moment once that still haunts them, because they definitely won’t-they’d. A kiss born of genuine friendship and attraction turned into public mockery, and Gemma is still so upset about it post-messy-divorce that she used Mason as the inspiration to pen her debut romance novel that is just releasing. As part of the promo, a local TV show has her on and surprises her with an appearance from now pro hockey star Mason, who strikes an undeniable likeness to the highlander on her cover (by complete coincidence…right?). While the anchor tries to make this a humiliating moment for Gemma, Mason smoothes it all over with ease, and the public is here.for.it. Turns out Gemma’s prick of an ex-husband is a huge Mason Moretti fan, so when his PR suggests a harmless night out to fuel some gossip, she agrees.

This book is a masterclass in nuance. Mason has a golden heart, but he’s like a clumsy little puppy, doing everything in the exact wrong way despite his good intentions. He leaves a trail of wreckage behind him and can’t understand what he’s doing wrong. Sometimes he does bad things. Things that hurt people. But he’s not a bad person. Gemma knows Mason better than most, having worked with him at the school newspaper once upon a time. She knows he means well, and agrees to help ‘coach’ him through some of the problematic ideas he’s come up with, helping him see how he comes off to others.

I was honestly floored by how good this book was. The premise had the potential to be just another cheesy love story without a terrible amount of depth. Instead, we’re let into the intimacies of the relationship between these two imperfect humans and get to see them slowly navigate this meeting of their new selves. It feels natural. It feels authentic. It’s a joy to read. They both choose honesty, and that allows them to understand one another deeply, cleanse their pasts, and embrace a new, strong, future.

I really could go on and on about this one, but it is a solid 5 star read, and the reason I hold out and rate the majority of books with 4 stars. That last star means there’s something special, and folks, this one has it. The X-factor. The chops of a seasoned author. A delight to read. Thank you Kelley Armstrong. Can’t wait to see what else you’ve got up your sleeves of romance!

I listened to this as an audiobook and both narrators were amazing! Patricia Santomasso had Gemma’s sort of cynical tone down wonderfully, and I’m going to keep my eye out for more Sean Patrick Hopkins…it was delightful.

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:: Writing Mr. Wrong
Author:: Kelley Armstrong
Genre:: Sports Romance
Publisher:: Forever
Length:: 336 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 4m
Audiobook Narrator:: Patricia Santomasso & Sean Patrick Hopkins
Published:: June 24th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

The Perfect Rom Com | Melissa Ferguson
Wish I Were Here | Melissa Wiesner
Slow Burn Summer | Josie Silver

Book Review:: Steal My Breath Away | Sarah Castille

I am quickly growing into a romantic suspense wh*re and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Sarah Castille’s new release of Steal My Breath Away does it so well, nailing the tone and giving so many swoony moments to feast on as the danger ratchets up for the characters. This is the second book in the Havencrest U series, and though I haven’t read book one, I feel confident saying you don’t have to have read it to jump right into book 2.

Steal My Breath Away by Sarah Castille Book Cover

Haley’s family has been entwined with Ace for years. As a teen he became great friends with Haley’s older brother and spent a lot of time with their family, as his home life was less than ideal. Now years later, a wedge of grief has been driven between them, but when they have a moment of need, Ace steps up. He works in personal security now, and with Haley’s mother in the middle of an important election cycle, danger is lurking close by and someone needs to keep watch over Haley as she attends university. Both Haley and Ace are reluctant to work together, given their emotional history, but no one is better suited to keep her safe than a man who loves her – even if he never admitted it until now.

I live for the feeling the first third of this novel gave me. So much tension, so much intrigue, such a complex and difficult backstory being built up behind the current crisis the characters are facing. I loved the back and forth between the present and the slow revelation of the complicated past that really added so much depth and emotion between the lead characters. It reminded me of one of my favorite books of all time in that way: In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros.

The second two thirds of the book also holds up well, but I thought there were parts that could have been ‘tightened up’ a little bit, plot-wise. There’s nothing glaring, but some the balance between romance & suspense seemed a little off at times which effects the feel of the pace as well.

Overall, this is a fantastic book if you’re looking to really be drawn into fiction for awhile – once you start it, good luck putting it down!

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:: Steal My Breath Away
Author:: Sarah Castille
Genre:: Romantic Suspense
Publisher:: Bramble
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 9h 55m
Audiobook Narrator:: Anthony Palmini & Samantha Brentmoor
Published:: June 17th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

In the Likely Event | Rebecca Yarros
All the Missing Pieces | Catherine Cowles

Book Review:: The Night We Lost Him | Laura Dave

I’m coming to realize that Laura Dave is one of my favorite authors right now. She’s an excellent atmospheric writer. The tone of her books is clear from the first page and blankets the entire narrative in a somber and mysterious aura. It’s right up my alley. Couple that with excellent character work, interesting narrative concepts, and prose as smooth as butter and you’ve got yourself a five-star book all day long.

The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave Book Cover

Nora is a strong woman who will be okay no matter which way the story turns. But the death of her father, and her estranged brother’s insistence that there is more to the story, brings up deep personal conflicts within her that she suddenly needs to explore. It is this train of story that we need closure on, and not necessarily the mystery surrounding her father’s death – but because she can’t reconcile her own issues without understanding his last days, we need to know that too. It’s brilliant story building, and I was hooked all the way through.

My one complaint is something that probably makes her books all the more marketable: they’re not longer. I could read 450+ pages of one of her stories happily, and I know she’d fill it all in with scintillating details that would only enhance it all. However, she fits a damn good story into these 320 pages, and I have to call that just about perfect.

I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Details

Title:: The Night We Lost Him
Author:: Laura Dave
Genre:: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher:: S&S/Marysue Rucci Books
Length:: 320 pages
Audio Length:: 7h 49m
Audiobook Narrator:: Julia Whelan
Published:: September 17th, 2024
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

The Villa | Rachel Hawkins
I Think I Was Murdered | Colleen Coble & Rick Acker
The Truth About the Devlins | Lisa Scottoline

Book Review:: Planes, Trains, and All the Feels | Livy Hart

I feel it is my duty to leave a review of this book after seeing so many bad reviews. Who are you people?! I’ve read this book twice and adored it both times. I can be picky with my five stars, but this one earned them all!

Planes, Trains, and All the Feels by Livy Hart Book Cover

Planes, Trains, and All the Feels gave me that feeling of finding a diamond in the rough through the library stacks. I think it was a random ‘available now’ title on Libby when I was looking for something fun to read.

BULLSEYE.

This book is fun, flirty, jam packed with disaster with plenty of sparky romance, and a foundation of meaningful character conflict that you’ll feel all the way in your heart.

Cassidy and Luke are just trying to get home. Not their actual homes (which are in the Carolinas), but the proverbial home, the home of their origin, where their families await them. Neither is exactly eager to get there, but the tether of obligation is strong, and they both pull toward California. Unfortunately, their plane has to divert and they get stuck in a tiny town with only a handful of rental cars and…it’s one thing after another from there.

Needless to say, they start off on the wrong foot and only collaborate due to necessity. But as disaster after disaster befall them and they have to depend on one another, they learn more about each other, and something changes.

Can you call a book a slow burn if it technically takes place over only a few days? I don’t care. This book is a slow burn as both Cassidy and Luke’s walls come down and authenticity begins to bleed through. By the time they get to California, you’ll be swooning and pining and just as caught up in the thrill of it as they are.

When I logged this book on goodreads, my jaw was literally on the floor seeing so many reviews of people disliking or not even finishing this book! I don’t understand. The only thing I can think is that these people were all expecting a different genre entirely? I’ve read some bad romance novels. This is not one of them. Please, ignore the one-stars on this one. Give it a chance! It’s endearing and so worth it.

That’s it. That’s my case. Do with it what you will. And happy reading.

Details

Title:: Planes, Trains, and all the Feels
Author:: Livy Hart
Genre:: Romantic Comedy
Publisher:: Entangled Trade
Length:: 352 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 52m
Audiobook Narrator:: Zura Johnson, James Cavenaugh
Published:: May 23rd, 2023
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

Emergency Contact | Lauren Layne & Anthony Ledonne
The Proposal Project | Donna Marchetti
Not in My Book | Katie Holt

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:: Never Been Shipped | Alicia Thompson

Music is a powerful phenomenon. It can transport us to a place or time, if only in our minds. For Micah and John, it brings them back together after years apart to play music from when they made it big once upon a time on a nostalgic cruise.

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson Book Cover

Micah and John grew up together, bonded over music, started a band, and eventually made it big. They were as close as close gets until she started dating another one of the band mates, which eventually led to the downfall of the band entirely. Now they’re face to face for the first time in years, and John is tired of living without her, but will learning what happened back then change the way he feels?

Overall, this is a cute story with a side of spice. I think most who read romance will enjoy it, but it wasn’t ultimately one of my favorites.

I’m not sure how realistic it is for one band member to be able to dissolve a band’s record deal, and for literally none of them to communicate about any of it at the time? It eventually gets explained, and it makes sense from a character perspective, but does it make real world sense? For me, that’s iffy.

However, we’re not reading romance for the logic of it all, are we? We’re reading for the longing, the angst, the…well, romance of it all. And Never Been Shipped covers those bases well. This book does the friends-to-lovers trope justice. I believed the past connection between these two characters and I was rooting for them to sort through their issues and commit the whole time. There could have probably been some more talking and mending things than there was, but we get the gist. I just feel like for this to have reached 5-star territory there would have had to been much more opening up and honesty and just…deeper emotion. It wasn’t absent entirely, but with backstories like theirs I was kind of left wanting more.

This was my first Alicia Thompson novel. I have another lined up on my Audible TBR already. I’m always on the lookout for great romance writers, and I’ll certainly be following Ms. Thompson’s bibliography!

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:: Never Been Shipped
Author:: Alicia Thompson
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Berkley
Length:: 400 pages
Audio Length:: 12h
Audiobook Narrator:: Ellie Gossage
Published:: June 10th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

If you liked this book, check out…

In the Likely Event | Rebecca Yarros
How to Hide in Plain Sight | Emma Noyes
Perfect Fit | Clare Gilmore
Catch and Keep | Erin Hahn

Book Review:: Sunny Side Up | Katie Sturino

Sunny Side Up is a new novel by Katie Sturino for all the second-act ladies out there. Sunny is trying to find her mojo after a divorce from a marriage that only lasted a handful of months. She’s put on weight and lost a lot of confidence, but she’s determined not to let that d*ck of a husband have the last laugh. I thought this book was funny, reflective, and actually quite stressful to read, though it wraps up nicely in the end.

Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino Book Cover

There is a lot of body positivity here. Sunny is a plus sized gal who works in PR and the fashion industry. For too long she’s seen brand after brand compromise in the wrong direction on size distribution and availability. Encouraged by her friends, Sunny is inspired to start a new swimsuit line of her own with the goal of getting size-inclusive suits in brick-and-mortar stores for women like her to finally feel good about flaunting swimwear. At the same time, she’s getting back out there, hoping to wash the grime of her ex-husband out of her intimate memories. She gets a little narrow focused on herself in that pursuit and as the plot thickens, it is more than just her own heart on the line.

Though I could feel the tension brewing early in this book, and saw the big conflict in the end coming from a mile away, I really enjoyed the story. It has many important messages including but not limited to:

There is life after divorce
Plus sized women also need clothes, brands…listen up
You don’t have to compromise your values to be successful
It’s okay to explore to figure out what it is you really want, but…
Be clear about where you’re at with other people! They have feelings too!

This book felt more realistic than a lot of the ‘typical’ romances I’ve been reading lately. Though Sunny is making good headway on her dreams, she also finds herself getting increasingly tangled in other situations she didn’t mean to find herself in at all. From her own perspective, the whole thing makes so much sense, and who hasn’t found themselves in some situation in life that went too far (romantic or otherwise).

This is the kind of book that really helps build empathy in the reader. I understood Sunny. I saw her. I wanted to have a girl’s night with her and point out some of the things she wasn’t seeing so clearly in the thick of it all. She’s a lovely girl doing her best, and she’ll be a great companion for anyone looking for a great summer read.

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:: Sunny Side Up
Author:: Katie Sturino
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Celadon Books
Length:: 304 pages
Audio Length:: 10h 8m
Audiobook Narrator:: Yael Rizowy
Published:: June 24th, 2025
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars